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The article discusses the polymerization process and a study from Carnegie Mellon University. Free radical polymerization (FRP) can start a reaction that generates monomer molecules. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) lets polymer chains grow indefinitely and form radicals, which can be deactivated and then reactivated as specialty polymers. The environmental advantage of ATRP over FRP is a lower energy requirement. However, ATRP needs transition metal catalysts and these copper halides can accumulate in the final product. ARGET, or activators regenerated by electron transfer, reduces the amount of copper catalyst needed for a controlled reaction. Carnegie Mellon researchers used ascorbic acid and glucose as reducing agents in the process.