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
Pushing back the boundaries of RAFT polymerisation
Radical polymerisation for degradable polymers
Dynamic polymer materials
Team members
permanent members
temporary members on average per year
Engineer
Team publications
This list of publications is uploaded directly from the P3R team’s HAL collection.
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- Marvin Langlais, Ihor Kulai, Olivier Coutelier, Mathias Destarac. Straightforward Xanthate-Mediated Synthesis of Functional γ-Thiolactones and Their Application to Polymer Synthesis and Modification. Macromolecules, 2017, 50 (9), pp.3524-3531. ⟨10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00398⟩. ⟨hal-02195475⟩
- Lucie Seiler. Synthèse de copolymères d'architecture contrôlée à motifs acide phosphonique : étude de leurs propriétés superplastifiantes dans des pâtes cimentaires. Polymères. Université Paul Sabatier - Toulouse III, 2017. Français. ⟨NNT : 2017TOU30279⟩. ⟨tel-01955925⟩
- L. Kunitskaya, T. Zheltonozhskaya, Mathias Destarac, Stéphane Mazières. Block copolymers containing polyacrylamide and polyacrylic acid: Bulk structure and hydrogen bonds system. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, 2017, 642 (1), pp.89-98. ⟨10.1080/15421406.2016.1255522⟩. ⟨hal-02194480⟩
- Roberto Yañez-Macias, Ihor Kulai, Jens Ulbrich, Turgay Yildirim, Pelin Sungur, et al.. Thermosensitive spontaneous gradient copolymers with block- and gradient-like features. Polymer Chemistry, 2017, 8 (34), pp.5023-5032. ⟨10.1039/C7PY00495H⟩. ⟨hal-02194983⟩
- Lucie Seiler, Julien Loiseau, Frédéric Leising, Pascal Boustingorry, Simon Harrisson, et al.. Acceleration and improved control of aqueous RAFT/MADIX polymerization of vinylphosphonic acid in the presence of alkali hydroxides. Polymer Chemistry, 2017, 8 (25), pp.3825-3832. ⟨10.1039/C7PY00747G⟩. ⟨hal-02194986⟩
- Kyle Sykes, Simon Harrisson, Daniel Keddie. Phosphorus-Containing Gradient (Block) Copolymers via RAFT Polymerization and Postpolymerization Modification. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 2016, 217 (20), pp.2310-2320. ⟨10.1002/macp.201600087⟩. ⟨hal-02195518⟩
- Assya Boujemaoui, Stéphane Mazières, Eva Malmstrom, Mathias Destarac, Anna Carlmark. SI-RAFT/MADIX polymerization of vinyl acetate on cellulose nanocrystals for nanocomposite applications. Polymer, 2016, 99, pp.240-249. ⟨10.1016/j.polymer.2016.07.013⟩. ⟨hal-02195540⟩
- Guillaume Gody, Per Zetterlund, Per Perrier, Simon Harrisson. The limits of precision monomer placement in chain growth polymerization. Nature Communications, 2016, 7 (1), ⟨10.1038/ncomms10514⟩. ⟨hal-02194892⟩
- Etienne Girard, Thierry Tassaing, Jean-Daniel Marty, Mathias Destarac. Structure–Property Relationships in CO 2 -philic (Co)polymers: Phase Behavior, Self-Assembly, and Stabilization of Water/CO 2 Emulsions. Chemical Reviews, 2016, 116 (7), pp.4125-4169. ⟨10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00420⟩. ⟨hal-02195696⟩
- Joel J Thevarajah, Adam T Sutton, Alison R Maniego, Elizabeth G Whitty, Simon Harrisson, et al.. Quantifying the heterogeneity of chemical structures in complex charged polymers through the dispersity of their distributions of electrophoretic mobilities or of compositions. Analytical Chemistry, 2016, 88 (3), pp.1674-1681. ⟨10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03672⟩. ⟨hal-04036459⟩
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Latest team news
Joséphine de Calbiac, PhD student at Softmat, defended her thesis on vitrimer matrix composites for space applications
Joséphine carried out her research in the P3R team at the Softmat laboratory, in close collaboration with Cnes and IRT Saint Exupéry. On 5th of December, she defended her thesis entitled: "Vitrimer...
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...