Expanded corn starch a novel material as macroinitiator/solid support in SI and AGET ATRP: GMA polymerization

Here we have shown the use of expanded corn starch (ECS) as an effective macro-initiator in Surface Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (SI-ATRP) as well as a solid support in catalytic system for Activators Generated by Electron Transfer-Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (AGET ATRP) for poly-glycidyl methacrylate (PGMA) with reasonably narrow polydispersity (PDI: 1.3-1.6). ECS having characteristic V type crystallinity imparts high surface area (similar to 50 m(2)g(-1)), pore volume (0.43 cm(3)g(-1)) and high thermal stability enabling it as a better material over CS for use in ATRP. Also, catalytic system in AGET ATRP based on ECS can be recycled for several times without substantial loss of activity. Thus, ECS proves to be a versatile material that can be used in different ways in ATRP leading to polymers/polymer-hybrids with controlled molecular weight.