If it sounds imposing, it should, but only because Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), is a major innovation that epitomizes chemistry’s ability to become greener. ATRP Solutions, a spinoff of Carnegie Mellon University in 2006 that has driven the development of ATRP and environmentally friendlier specialty materials, is leading the way.

Developed at Carnegie Mellon by renowned professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski in 1995, ATRP allows scientists to easily form polymers used for coatings, adhesives, lubricants, cosmetics and electronics. The technology allows for the production of smart materials that can respond to altered environments, like changes in pressure, acidity or light.

ATRP relies on a specialized copper catalyst to form a polymer chain. That used to mean manufacturing using ATRP contained high levels of copper. But in 2006, Matyjaszewski and colleagues introduced a green approach to ATRP that incorporates vitamin C, sugars and other environmentally benign reducing agents to lessen the amount of copper catalyst needed for the reactions by as much as 1,000 times. That significantly reduced the output of potentially hazardous materials employed in ATRP.

Companies like PPG Industries, Dionex, Ciba, Kaneka, Mitsubishi, WEP and Encapson have licensed ATRP and produce high-performing, less-hazardous and safer materials for a wide variety of applications.
As of 2008, Matyjaszewski’s group published more than 500 papers on CRP, and these papers have been cited more than 30,000 times, making Matyjaszewski one of the most cited researchers in the field of chemistry. In 2009, he earned the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for his ATRP innovation. The company has also been supported by Pittsburgh’s Innovation Works incubator and Life Sciences Greenhouse.

In the summer of 2011, the company was in hiring mode and looking for a new home after closing on $725,000 from four investors in a Series A funding round offering $1.2 million.