French scientists specializing in organic radical chemistry are using Brookhaven Instruments’ BI-MwA Molecular Weight Analyser to monitor real-time polymerization reactions. Dr Denis Bertin, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Free Radicals at the University of Aix-Marseilles I & III, explained: “My laboratory is developing new complex architecture polymers including block, graft, star and gradient. Using the BI-MwA to obtain real time information on the size and shape of the polymers allows us to optimize the process as well as monitor online radical polymerization.”
The instrument has helped the researchers at the University understand the complicated kinetic phenomena involved and guided the synthesis of new polymers. An ever-increasing number of monomers can undergo living free radical polymerization and it is hoped that these will lead to the discovery of new materials for a variety of specific applications, such as the manufacture of compact discs, televisions and drug delivery systems.
“We compared the BI-MwA to other instruments available and Brookhaven came top in our evaluations. We have turned to Brookhaven for all of our supplies and apparatus,” concluded Dr Bertin.
Instruments: