J.A. Pojman
Louisiana State University,
United States
Keywords: polymerization, one-pot formulations
Summary:
The goal of cure-on-demand polymerization is to create one-pot systems that have a long shelf live but will react rapidly when curing is desired. We use two approaches: coupling polymerizations with clock reactions and an approach called frontal polymerization in which a localized reaction zone propagates from the coupling of thermal transport and the Arrhenius dependence of the reaction rate of an exothermic polymerization. We demonstrate that frontal polymerization can be used to create a cure-on-demand wood filler and composite repair material. The filler has a months-to-years shelf life, is a one-pot formulation, can be applied leisurely and then cured rapidly with a flat heat source. We will explore the commercialization of “QuickCure Clay” for the arts and crafts market and QuickCure WoodFiller and consider how frontal polymerization can be used for additive manufacturing and coatings. Finally, we will present a new coating system cured with ammonia generated by the urea-urease clock reaction.