Scientists have achieved a breakthrough by developing an improvement to a popular method for creating coatings, adhesives and drug delivery systems.
Atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) is widely used for creating industrial plastics, and scientists from Carnegie Mellon University have successfully developed an environmentally-friendly approach to this technique which also allows for the creation of more complex and specialised materials.
Using an electric battery, researchers led by chemist Krzysztof Matyjaszewski were able to control the speed of the reaction, while also reducing toxic copper levels produced during the process.
Commenting on the findings, published in the journal Science, Professor Matyjaszewski said: "We found that by adjusting the current and voltage we could slow and speed up, or even start and stop the reaction on-demand.
"This gives us a great deal more flexibility in conducting our reactions that should lead to the development of precisely engineered materials."
Professor Matyjaszewski is credited with having invented the ATRP process. He was recently recognised for his achievements in chemistry by the Wolf Foundation, who awarded him the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in February.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the pharmaceutical industry includes; Feeders – metering screw feeders – weighing systems
