A new low-temperature plasma discharge reactor for polymerisation of unsaturated compounds

The polymerisation of amphiphilic monomers effects a stabilisation of shape and size of the micelles formed by these amphiphiles. The polymerisation was carried out in aqueous media initiated by low-temperature plasma in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor. To our knowledge this method has not been reported in contrast to the UV polymerisation. A dependence of the turnover and the molecular weight of the polymers on treatment conditions was found. The low-temperature plasma polymerisation shows advantages in comparison with the UV-initiated polymerisation.