Super lubrication bottlebrush polymer particles synthesis using core cross-linking

Abstract

In this project, we synthesized cross-linked particles of bottlebrush polymer via organocatalyzed living radical polymerization (OLRP). OLRP is environmentally benign and bio-compatible as no metal and sulfur compound is used. We synthesized poly(dimethicone) (PDM-I) (bottlebrush polymer part) as the macroinitiator with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linking segment. Cross-linked bottlebrush polymer particles are not easily entangled and interpenetrated among each other due to the steric repulsion. On the other hand, linear polymers are more easily entangled among each other. The viscosity of the cross-linked particles was compared with cross-linked particles of linear polymer (poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)) in various concentrations. The obtained cross-linked particles of bottlebrush polymer are environmentally safe and they exhibit low viscosity. On this ground, the cross-linked particles of bottlebrush polymer are useful in skincare and cosmetics area, especially for moisturizing and hydration purposes.