A recent special issue of Polymer International focuses on the progress of atom-transfer radical polymerization. The publication highlights and adds to the growing body of literature on current ATRP (Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization) developments. This exciting and topical issue is co-edited by Krzysztof Matyjaszewski and Carmen Scholz.

Professor Matyjaszewski is a pioneer of radical polymerization, author of the renowned 1995 article published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. In this paper, one of the first CRP methods, copper-mediated ATRP is outlined. Matyjaszewski describes ATRP as the “Holy Grail in synthetic polymer chemistry” and continues to explore possibilities of ATRP for macromolecular engineering.

In this age of plastics, the benefits of the ATRP process are evident across everyday life. Mayjaszewski reports that 100 million tons of polymers are produced by radical polymerizations – that’s 50% of all commercial polymers. This special issue explores current research trends and advancements in variants of ATRP, attesting to the commercial value of ATRP techniques. Moreover, each article not only advances our understanding of the methods in which materials are synthesized, but expands on these techniques.

Featuring an impressive selection of influential authors, each paper in this special issue promises to expand on the use of ATRP in polymer synthesis.

Selected article highlights include:

A review of progress in ATRP techniques by Katrina Pangilinan and Rigoberto Advincula, focusing particularly on ring-closure reactions of catenanes.

Klumperman and Hadasha review research on the application of ATRP for the synthesis of molecular brushes.

Hvilsted’s review offers an overview of ATRP and the synthesis of fluorinated polymers, identifying how recent progresses could allow for the combination of ATRP with ‘click’ chemistry.