(Meth)acrylated poly(ethylene glycol)s as precursors for rheology modifiers, superplasticizers and electrolyte membranes: a review

This review summarizes current trends in (meth)acrylated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) systems in the last decade, with a specific focus on their most important applications, including associative rheology modifiers, superplasticizers and electrolyte membranes. Associative rheology modifiers based on (meth)acrylated PEGs have significantly contributed to improvement of the application characteristics of waterborne coatings. These materials are employed by paint formulators to provide proper viscosity profiles across an entire shear range encountered in various paint applications. In the cement and concrete industry, superplasticizers derived from (meth)acrylated PEGs have also opened the doors to advances in this area, because of their ability to produce cementitious materials with lower water content and without compromising workability. In addition, development of solid electrolyte membranes based on photo‐curable (meth)acrylated PEGs for use in polymer lithium ion batteries has recently attracted increasing attention in the energy storage industry. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the structural investigations and applications of (meth)acrylated PEGs and serves as a starting point for future studies.