Expertise

Topics:  Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Synthesis, Macromolecules, Responsive Polymeric Material Development

Industries: Chemicals

One of the leading educators in the field of polymer chemistry, Krzysztof (Kris) Matyjaszewski is perhaps best known for the discovery of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), a novel method of polymer synthesis that has revolutionized the way macromolecules are made. As head of the Department of Chemistry, Matyjaszewski formed a research consortium with various industrial corporations to expand the understanding of controlled radical polymerization, including ATRP, and accelerate the transfer of this technology to different commercial applications. A second consortium, formed under his leadership in 2001, continues and expands these efforts, training university and industrial scientists in procedures for responsive polymeric material development. Over 60 companies from Europe, Asia and North America have been members of these consortia.

Media Experience

Harnessing the building blocks of polymer recycling  — Phys.org
An alternate route toward a more sustainable polymer industry is to increase the service lifetime of polymers. An intriguing new concept is to impart the ability to "self-heal" from structural damage. Michael Bockstaller, professor of materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon University Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, professor of chemistry, has discovered that the binding of copolymers on the surface of nanoparticles that are already used in industrial manufacturing provides an economic and scalable route toward self-healing polymers with increased strength and toughness.

Open-air performance for atom transfer radical polymerisation  — Chemistry World
Researchers in the US have developed an atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) process that is fully tolerant of oxygen. It will remove the need for specialised equipment and allow users to perform ATRP in both water and organic solvents in an open reaction vessel.

In situ with Krzysztof Matyjaszewski  — Chemistry World
Krzysztof Matyjaszewski is the JC Warner professor of the natural sciences at Carnegie Mellon University in the US. He developed atom transfer radical polymerisation in 1994, a method that is now in wide use throughout the world to control polymerisation. He was talking to Patrick Walter at Iupac’s 47th general assembly in Paris