P3R team
Created in 2007, the “Precision polymers by radical processes” group (P3R) is composed of organic and polymer chemists who develop original polymer materials using radical chemistry.
P3R has a longstanding experience in reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation. This includes the study of the structure-reactivity relationship of original classes of RAFT agents, RAFT control of “tricky” monomers, and the synthesis of functional block copolymers with targeted properties.
In recent years, we made a clear shift in the way we design our polymers towards materials of enhanced sustainability. For instance, new methodologies for making (chemically) degradable polymers by radical ring-opening copolymerization have been successfully developed.
Another recent strategic area is the design of dynamic polymer materials, in particular nanostructured vitrimers and carbon-fiber reinforced vitrimer materials for the aerospace sector.
We attach particular attention to the exploitation of our research results through a large number of patent applications with some examples of commercial success in collaboration with industrial partners.
Research topics
Team members
permanent members
temporary members on average per year
Team publications
This list of publications is uploaded directly from the P3R team’s HAL collection.
- Oleksandr Ivanchenko, Maksym Odnoroh, Sonia Mallet-Ladeira, Marc Guerre, Stéphane Mazières, et al.. Azo-Derived Symmetrical Trithiocarbonate for Unprecedented RAFT Control. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2021, 143 (49), pp.20585-20590. ⟨10.1021/jacs.1c10031⟩. ⟨hal-03566047⟩
- Iwona Misztalewska-Turkowicz, Olivier Coutelier, Mathias Destarac. Two Pathways of Thiolactone Incorporation into Polyurethanes and Their One-Pot Double Postfunctionalization. Macromolecules, 2020, 53 (24), pp.10785-10795. ⟨10.1021/acs.macromol.0c01779⟩. ⟨hal-03114588⟩
- Fang Yin, Juliette Behra, Mariana Beija, Annie Brûlet, Juliette Fitremann, et al.. Effect of the microstructure of n-butyl acrylate/N-isopropylacrylamide copolymers on their thermo-responsiveness, self-organization and gel properties in water. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2020, 578, pp.685-697. ⟨10.1016/j.jcis.2020.06.005⟩. ⟨hal-02873611⟩
- Junliang Zhang, Barbara Farias‐mancilla, Ihor Kulai, Stephanie Hoeppener, Barbara Lonetti, et al.. Effect of Hydrophilic Monomer Distribution on Self‐Assembly of a pH‐Responsive Copolymer: Spheres, Worms and Vesicles from a Single Copolymer Composition. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2020, ⟨10.1002/anie.202010501⟩. ⟨hal-03031355⟩
- Ihor Kulai, Andrii Karpus, David Bergbreiter, Mohammed Al‐hashimi, Hassan Bazzi. Organocatalytic Michael Addition as a Method for Polyisobutylene Chain‐End Functionalization. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2020, pp.2000382. ⟨10.1002/marc.202000382⟩. ⟨hal-02926945⟩
- G. Layrac, Simon Harrisson, Mathias Destarac, Corine Gerardin, D. Tichit. Comprehensive study of the formation of stable colloids of Cu Al layered double hydroxide assisted by double hydrophilic block copolymers. Applied Clay Science, 2020, 193, pp.105673. ⟨10.1016/j.clay.2020.105673⟩. ⟨hal-03090837⟩
- Valentin Puchelle, Yannick Latreyte, Mélanie Girardot, Laura Garnotel, Léa Levesque, et al.. Functional Poly(ester- alt -sulfide)s Synthesized by Organo-Catalyzed Anionic Ring-Opening Alternating Copolymerization of Oxiranes and γ-Thiobutyrolactones. Macromolecules, 2020, 53 (13), pp.5188-5198. ⟨10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00261⟩. ⟨hal-03158438⟩
- Matías Menossi, Juan Milanesio, Séverine Camy, Simon Harrisson, Miriam Strumia, et al.. Volumetric properties of carbon dioxide + acrylic acid binary in the context of supercritical precipitation polymerization. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2020, 160, pp.104787. ⟨10.1016/j.supflu.2020.104787⟩. ⟨hal-02614169⟩
- Marc Guerre, Christian Taplan, Johan Winne, Filip E. Du Prez. Vinylogous Urethane Vitrimers with a Dual Temperature Response. 1st French-Japanese Symposium on Polymer Science, Jan 2020, Montpellier, France. ⟨hal-02467634⟩
- Anthony Phimphachanh, Joseph Chamieh, Laurent Leclercq, Simon Harrisson, Mathias Destarac, et al.. Characterization of Diblock Copolymers by Capillary Electrophoresis: From Electrophoretic Mobility Distribution to Distribution of Composition. Macromolecules, 2020, 53 (1), pp.334-345. ⟨10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01978⟩. ⟨hal-02462075v2⟩
Latest team news
A radical-based new approach to high-performance recyclable plastics
Researchers from the P3R team at Softmat have developed new vitrimers by developing heat-activated radical chemistry. This novel approach gives these materials, which are resistant, repairable and...
Ecolanka, a startup offering disruptive innovation in the field of degradable polymers, spun off from Softmat
Based on research conducted in the P3R team by Mathias Destarac and Sasha Ivanchenko (awarded the 2023 iPhD Grand Prix by the French Ministry of Research and operated by BPI France for this...
Olivier Coutelier, lecturer at softmat, defended his habilitation to supervise PhD students
Olivier conducts his research in the P3R team at the Softmat laboratory. On the 18th of April, he defended his habilitation to supervise PhD students, marking a milestone in his career. After his...





