Flow polymerization mechanisms, microreactor fundamentals, and industrial scale-up strategies

Continuous flow polymerization offers improved efficiency, reproducibility, and enhanced safety for exothermic reactions involving toxic components, high pressures, and high temperatures. Microreactor-based Flow Polymerizations provides systematic coverage of microreactor fundamentals and polymerization mechanisms conducted in continuous flow. Edited by Ning Zhu and Xin Hu, researchers with over 160 combined scientific publications in polymer science and flow chemistry, this reference spans from foundational concepts to practical scale-up.

The book addresses flow ionic polymerizations, flow radical polymerizations, flow ring-opening and ring-opening metathesis polymerizations, flow polymerization-polymerizations and post modifications, and flow polymerization scale-up. Coverage extends across anionic, cationic, radical, and ring-opening mechanisms applied to diverse monomers. Each topic integrates advances, opportunities, and challenges facing researchers and industrial practitioners working with continuous flow synthesis methods.

Readers will also find:

• Detailed treatment of microreactor design fundamentals and the distinct advantages of conducting polymerizations in continuous flow systems
• Coverage of flow ionic, radical, and ring-opening metathesis polymerization mechanisms with application to diverse monomer systems
• Practical scale-up information for translating laboratory flow polymerization processes into industrial manufacturing operations
• Discussion of post-modification strategies integrated with flow polymerization processes for tailored polymer architectures
• Analysis of current advances, opportunities, and technical challenges shaping the future of flow synthesis technology

Designed for polymer chemists, organic chemists, materials scientists, and chemical engineers, this reference connects academic research with industrial practice. Professionals at chemical manufacturers and polymer-related companies will find actionable guidance on implementing and scaling microreactor-based flow polymerization processes for well-defined polymer synthesis.

Ning Zhu, PhD, is Professor of College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering at Nanjing Tech University, China. He has authored over 100 scientific publications and his research focuses on structure design, preparation methods, and industrial transformation of bio-based functional polymer materials based on bio-chemical catalytic coupling and flow chemistry.

Xin Hu, PhD, is Professor of College of Materials Science and Engineering at Nanjing Tech University, China. She has authored over 60 scientific publications with research focused on flow-controlled polymerizations, dielectric energy storage materials, and bio-based functional materials.