Controlled Architecture of Glass Fiber/Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) Composites via Surface-Initiated ICAR ATRP Mediated by Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine Chemistry

Abstract

This study presents a new strategy by integrating surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) with bio-inspired polydopamine chemistry to prepare well-defined glass fiber/polymer composites. Firstly, a homogenous PDA layer, which served as a favorable platform facilitating ATRP initiators anchoring, was deposited onto the glass fibers. Controlled growth of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) brushes from the glass fibers were then performed using the initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR) ATRP method. PGMA brushes with defined structure, grafting density (5 wt.% ~ 25 wt.%) and well preservation of chain end-functionality could be obtained by reducing radical initiator ratio and using a high dilution strategy (solvent: monomer=10:1 (V:V)). And, a narrow distribution of molecular weight (PDI≤1.2) could be attained within reduced polymerization time. Laccase, as an enzyme model, was then covalently immobilized to the glass fiber/PGMA composites. The developed bio-composit...