Supercritical carbon dioxide and polymers: an interplay of science and technology

The increasing use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a green solvent for polymer synthesis and processing reflects a still growing interest at academic and industrial level. The peculiar characteristics of scCO2, namely its plasticizing effect on polymeric structures and the enhanced chain mobility, render it an ideal medium for polymer synthesis and processing. The broad range of processes as well as of the polymeric structures often requires a deeper understanding of the effect of scCO2 on polymeric structures at microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic levels. The aim of the present paper is to offer a perspective on this topic by outlining current and future challenges in this field.