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Temperature Gradient Interaction Chromatography: A Perspective (2021)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L. R., & Pagliarulo, A. (2021). Temperature Gradient Interaction Chromatography: A Perspective. Chromatographia, 84(9), 813-818. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-021-04068-1

The application of temperature gradient interaction chromatography (TGIC) as an advanced technique for the characterisation of polymers is discussed, in comparison to other liquid chromatography techniques and in particular the ubiquitous size exclus... Read More about Temperature Gradient Interaction Chromatography: A Perspective.

The self-assembly and thermoresponsivity of poly(isoprene-b-methyl methacrylate) copolymers in non-polar solvents (2021)
Journal Article
Day, D. M., & Hutchings, L. R. (2021). The self-assembly and thermoresponsivity of poly(isoprene-b-methyl methacrylate) copolymers in non-polar solvents. European Polymer Journal, 156, Article 110631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110631

The self-assembly of a series of polyisoprene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PI-b-PMMA) block copolymers, in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents is reported for the first time. The block copolymers were prepared by a change of mechanism polymerisation (... Read More about The self-assembly and thermoresponsivity of poly(isoprene-b-methyl methacrylate) copolymers in non-polar solvents.

Synthesis and characterisation of a mussel-inspired hydrogel film coating for biosensors (2021)
Journal Article
Millican, J. M., Bittrich, E., Caspari, A., Pöschel, K., Drechsler, A., Freudenberg, U., …Hutchings, L. R. (2021). Synthesis and characterisation of a mussel-inspired hydrogel film coating for biosensors. European Polymer Journal, 153, Article 110503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110503

Mussel-inspired, catechol-containing monomers are being increasingly utilised to design versatile, adhesive, functional copolymers. This work reports the synthesis and detailed characterisation of a novel terpolymer comprising dopamine methacrylamide... Read More about Synthesis and characterisation of a mussel-inspired hydrogel film coating for biosensors.

Understanding copolymerisation kinetics for the design of functional copolymers via free radical polymerisation (2019)
Journal Article
Boulding, N. A., Millican, J. M., & Hutchings, L. R. (2019). Understanding copolymerisation kinetics for the design of functional copolymers via free radical polymerisation. Polymer Chemistry, 10(41), 5665-5675. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9py01294j

Determining the monomer sequence distribution of copolymers is important when correlating copolymer molecular structure (random, gradient etc.) to macroscopic/material properties. We report here the relative monomer reactivities for the copolymerisat... Read More about Understanding copolymerisation kinetics for the design of functional copolymers via free radical polymerisation.

Synthesis and Coupling of ABx Polysiloxane Macromonomers to Form Highly Branched Polysiloxanes (2019)
Journal Article
Yolsal, U., & Hutchings, L. R. (2019). Synthesis and Coupling of ABx Polysiloxane Macromonomers to Form Highly Branched Polysiloxanes. European Polymer Journal, 113, 254-259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.01.066

This work focuses on the synthesis of polysiloxane ABx macromonomers with functional groups (A [Si-H] and B [vinyl]) incorporated on to the polymer backbone, and the coupling of these functionalities to form randomly, but highly, branched polymers. T... Read More about Synthesis and Coupling of ABx Polysiloxane Macromonomers to Form Highly Branched Polysiloxanes.

Towards bio-based tapered block copolymers: the behaviour of myrcene in the statistical anionic copolymerisation (2019)
Journal Article
Grune, E., Bareuther, J., Blankenburg, J., Appold, M., Shaw, L., Mueller, A. H., …Frey, H. (2019). Towards bio-based tapered block copolymers: the behaviour of myrcene in the statistical anionic copolymerisation. Polymer Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1039/c8py01711e

To explore the potential of myrcene (Myr) as a bio-based monoterpene comonomer for styrenic copolymers and to establish its general applicability for the carbanionic copolymerisation, several statistical copolymerisations of myrcene and common monome... Read More about Towards bio-based tapered block copolymers: the behaviour of myrcene in the statistical anionic copolymerisation.

End-Functionalized Chains via Anionic Polymerization: Can the Problems with Using Diphenylethylene Derivatives be Solved by using Bisphenol F? (2017)
Journal Article
Pagliarulo, A., & Hutchings, L. R. (2018). End-Functionalized Chains via Anionic Polymerization: Can the Problems with Using Diphenylethylene Derivatives be Solved by using Bisphenol F?. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 219(1), Article 1700386. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201700386

The controlled functionalization of polymers via anionic polymerization draws great attention not only because of the importance of introducing functionality into otherwise unfunctionalized polymers, but also because of the possibility to use the res... Read More about End-Functionalized Chains via Anionic Polymerization: Can the Problems with Using Diphenylethylene Derivatives be Solved by using Bisphenol F?.

The Roles of Blending and of Molecular Weight Distribution on Craze Initiation (2017)
Journal Article
Sánchez-Valencia, A., Smerdova, O., Hutchings, L. R., & De Focatiis, D. S. (2017). The Roles of Blending and of Molecular Weight Distribution on Craze Initiation. Macromolecules, 50(23), 9507-9514. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01289

Craze initiation stress was measured in three-point bending isochronal creep tests on a series of entangled bimodal blends of polystyrenes of narrow dispersity, on three polystyrenes of broad dispersity, and on four blends of polystyrenes of broad di... Read More about The Roles of Blending and of Molecular Weight Distribution on Craze Initiation.

Dynamics of Star Polymers in Fast Extensional Flow and Stress Relaxation (2016)
Journal Article
Huang, Q., Agostini, S., Hengeller, L., Shivokhin, M., Alvarez, N. J., Hutchings, L. R., & Hassager, O. (2016). Dynamics of Star Polymers in Fast Extensional Flow and Stress Relaxation. Macromolecules, 49(17), 6694-6699. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.6b01348

We confirm the observation from Ianniruberto and Marrucci [ Macromolecules 2013, 46, 267−275] that entangled melts of branched polystyrenes behave like linear polystyrenes in the steady state of fast extensional flow, by measuring a linear, an asymme... Read More about Dynamics of Star Polymers in Fast Extensional Flow and Stress Relaxation.

Spontaneous Nanoparticle Dispersal in Polybutadiene by Brush-Forming End-Functional Polymers (2016)
Journal Article
Hart, J. M., Kimani, S. M., Hutchings, L. R., Grillo, I., Hughes, A. V., Clarke, N., …Thompson, R. L. (2016). Spontaneous Nanoparticle Dispersal in Polybutadiene by Brush-Forming End-Functional Polymers. Macromolecules, 49(4), 1434-1443. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.5b02318

A masterbatch additive for the enhanced dispersal of bare silica nanoparticles in polybutadiene is demonstrated using tetrahydroxyl end-functional polybutadienes (“4OH-PBd”). Neutron reflectometry and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) confirm the... Read More about Spontaneous Nanoparticle Dispersal in Polybutadiene by Brush-Forming End-Functional Polymers.

Chain Architecture as an Orthogonal Parameter To Influence Block Copolymer Morphology. Synthesis and Characterization of Hyperbranched Block Copolymers: HyperBlocks (2015)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L. R., Agostini, S., Hamley, I. W., & Hermida-Merino, D. (2015). Chain Architecture as an Orthogonal Parameter To Influence Block Copolymer Morphology. Synthesis and Characterization of Hyperbranched Block Copolymers: HyperBlocks. Macromolecules, 48(24), 8806-8822. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.5b02052

For block copolymers there is usually a strong correlation between the copolymer composition (volume fraction of each block) and the resulting solid state morphology. However, for a variety of potential applications, e.g., semipermeable membranes or... Read More about Chain Architecture as an Orthogonal Parameter To Influence Block Copolymer Morphology. Synthesis and Characterization of Hyperbranched Block Copolymers: HyperBlocks.

Discussion on “Aperiodic Copolymers” (2015)
Journal Article
Rowan, S. J., Barner-Kowollik, C., Klumperman, B., Gaspard, P., Grubbs, R. B., Hillmyer, M. A., …Lodge, T. P. (2016). Discussion on “Aperiodic Copolymers”. ACS Macro Letters, 5(1), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00758

In a recent Viewpoint (ACS Macro Lett. 2014, 3, 1020), J.-F. Lutz brought to the community’s attention the need for more informative nomenclature, especially with respect to macromolecules with prescribed but not repeating sequences of monomers. Lutz... Read More about Discussion on “Aperiodic Copolymers”.

Normal-phase (temperature gradient) interaction chromatography – A powerful tool for the characterisation of high molecular weight chain-end functionalised polymers (2015)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L. R., Agostini, S., Oti, M. E., & Keth, J. (2015). Normal-phase (temperature gradient) interaction chromatography – A powerful tool for the characterisation of high molecular weight chain-end functionalised polymers. European Polymer Journal, 73, 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.10.010

We report here, for the first time, quantitative analysis of end-group functionalisation and the extent of end-group modification of polymers with molar mass up to 200,000 g mol−1, using a combination of isothermal and temperature gradient interactio... Read More about Normal-phase (temperature gradient) interaction chromatography – A powerful tool for the characterisation of high molecular weight chain-end functionalised polymers.

Modifying Polyester Surfaces with Incompatible Polymer Additives (2015)
Journal Article
James, C. D., Jeynes, C., Barradas, N. P., Clifton, L., Dalgliesh, R. M., Smith, R. F., …Thompson, R. L. (2015). Modifying Polyester Surfaces with Incompatible Polymer Additives. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 89, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2015.03.002

Surface modification of amorphous PET in incompatible blends is demonstrated using fluorocarbon end-functional polystyrenes. Contact angles with water and decane were consistent with high levels of surface fluorocarbon, even for spin-cast films with... Read More about Modifying Polyester Surfaces with Incompatible Polymer Additives.

Monomer Sequence Control via Living Anionic Copolymerization: Synthesis of Alternating, Statistical, and Telechelic Copolymers and Sequence Analysis by MALDI ToF Mass Spectrometry (2015)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L. R., Brooks, P. P., Parker, D., Mosely, J. A., & Sevinc, S. (2015). Monomer Sequence Control via Living Anionic Copolymerization: Synthesis of Alternating, Statistical, and Telechelic Copolymers and Sequence Analysis by MALDI ToF Mass Spectrometry. Macromolecules, 48(3), 610-628. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma5016038

Diphenylethylene (DPE) is a monomer which has attracted significant interest from both academia and industry. DPE can undergo (co)polymerization by living anionic polymerization but is incapable of forming a homopolymer due to steric hindrance. Herei... Read More about Monomer Sequence Control via Living Anionic Copolymerization: Synthesis of Alternating, Statistical, and Telechelic Copolymers and Sequence Analysis by MALDI ToF Mass Spectrometry.

A Novel Method of Extraction of Blend Component Structure from SANS Measurements of Homopolymer Bimodal Blends (2014)
Journal Article
Smerdova, O., Graham, R., Gasser, U., Hutchings, L., & De Focatiis, D. (2014). A Novel Method of Extraction of Blend Component Structure from SANS Measurements of Homopolymer Bimodal Blends. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 215(9), 859-866. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201300787

A new method is presented for the extraction of single-chain form factors and interchain interference functions from a range of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments on bimodal homopolymer blends. The method requires a minimum of three bl... Read More about A Novel Method of Extraction of Blend Component Structure from SANS Measurements of Homopolymer Bimodal Blends.

Multihydroxyl End Functional Polyethylenes: Synthesis, Bulk and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Surfactants (2014)
Journal Article
Kimani, S., Thompson, R., Hutchings, L., Clarke, N., Billah, S., Sakai, V., & Rogers, S. (2014). Multihydroxyl End Functional Polyethylenes: Synthesis, Bulk and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Surfactants. Macromolecules, 47(6), 2062-2071. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma402158b

Multihydroxyl end functional polyethylenes have been prepared with controlled molecular weight, microstructure, and functionalization. These materials, designed as interfacially active blend additives for polar interfaces, are thermally stable up to... Read More about Multihydroxyl End Functional Polyethylenes: Synthesis, Bulk and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Surfactants.

Synthesis and temperature gradient interaction chromatography of model asymmetric star polymers by the "macromonomer" approach (2013)
Journal Article
Agostini, S., & Hutchings, L. R. (2013). Synthesis and temperature gradient interaction chromatography of model asymmetric star polymers by the "macromonomer" approach. European Polymer Journal, 49(9), 2769-2784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2013.06.021

We describe herein the synthesis and characterisation of a series of asymmetric three arm polystyrene stars via the “macromonomer” approach. The stars have been designed as model polymers to probe branched polymer dynamics and in particular to establ... Read More about Synthesis and temperature gradient interaction chromatography of model asymmetric star polymers by the "macromonomer" approach.