Flow Chemistry: How Fluid Dynamics, AI, and Automation are Driving Polymer Discovery

Flow chemistry is revolutionizing the way we design and study macromolecules, offering a powerful, complementary approach to materials discovery—one that seamlessly integrates with modern data-driven research.

Join Frank Leibfarth of North Carolina, Chapel Hill as he explores the exciting opportunities and challenges of polymer synthesis in flow. Discover how fundamental fluid dynamics shape chemical reactions and learn how his lab is leveraging flow synthesis to develop high-performance medical imaging agents and advanced 3D-printable elastomers.

Flow reactors hold the potential to transform polymerization with automation, high throughput, and AI-driven discovery. But transitioning from traditional batch synthesis to a flow-based system requires a deep understanding of fluid dynamics. Damien Guironnet of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign breaks down these essential engineering principles and dispels common misconceptions about flow reactors, providing clarity on how they can be optimized for groundbreaking research.

This ACS Webinar is moderated by Luke A. Baldwin of the Air Force Research Lab and co-produced with the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry.

What You Will Learn:

• The impact of fluid dynamics on polymerization in tubular reactors
• How high-throughput flow synthesis accelerates materials discovery
• The role of continuous synthesis in AI-driven material innovation
• Core fluid dynamics principles critical for flow polymerization
• How flow reactors enable the creation of unique, high-performance polymers
• Common myths about flow reactors—and the science to debunk them