Tanvi Vats & Anuradha Mishra 
Microwave-Assisted Polymerization 

Polymer science faces the challenge of meeting growing market demand for polymers whilst achieving sustainability through environmentally friendly processes. Microwave heating has emerged as a greener technique that accelerates a variety of chemical reactions, including polymerization. Microwave-assisted reactions can be cleaner and more rapid and economic analyses suggest that the cost of curing polymers may be reduced by switching over to the use of microwaves.

This book provides comprehensive coverage of microwave-assisted polymerization. The first chapter introduces readers to the theory behind the accelerating effects of microwaves on chemical reactions and covers the types of commercial microwave reactors being used for synthesis and processing of polymers that are available on the market. Subsequent chapters are organised by type of reaction, including radical homo and co-polymerizations, step growth polymerization and peptide synthesis. Importantly, analysis of processes and product properties in comparison with conventional methods is also detailed.

This book will be a valuable resource for green chemists and polymer scientists and engineers who want to develop sustainable processes.

Table of Content

Microwave Radiations: Theory and Instrumentation; Radical Polymerization; Step-Growth Polymerization; Ring-Opening Polymerization; Microwave-assisted Peptide Synthesis; Hydrogels; Conducting Polymers; Polymer Modifications

About the author

James H Clark is Professor of Chemistry at the University of York, and is Founding Director of the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence and the Bio-renewables Development Centre. He started the award-winning company Starbons Ltd and he is now involved in commercialisation of novel bio-based solvents and new green technologies. He was founding scientific editor of the world-leading journal Green Chemistry. His research has led to numerous awards including Honorary Doctorates from universities in Belgium, Germany and Sweden. He has Visiting Professorships in South Africa and China, and was recently appointed as Chair-Professor at Fudan University. He has published over 500 articles (h index over 72) and written or edited over 20 books and is Editor-in-chief of the RSC Green Chemistry book series. He has received numerous awards and distinctions including the 2018 Green Chemistry prize.