Radical polymerization of acrylic monomers: An overview

Since their discovery and development in the 20th century, acrylic polymers have become an integral part of numerous industries and are used in a myriad of applications. As is true for many polymers, the suitability of a particular polyacrylate for a given application comes from its structure, which is determined during its synthesis in the reactor, long before commercial use. Uniquely, the radical polymerization of acrylic monomers is strongly affected by radical transfer events which dictate reaction kinetics and lead to a range of distinct macromolecular structures, a fact that went unknown for many years and continues to generate unexpected results. In this review, we aim to present the current picture of the various competitive processes which occur during polymerization of acrylic monomers, as well as the ongoing issues that hinder our complete comprehension of this complicated monomer family.