Effects of surfactants on the morphology of composite polymer particles produced by two‐stage seeded emulsion polymerization

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)–polystyrene (PS) composite polymer particles were synthesized in the presence of a surfactant by two‐stage seeded emulsion polymerization. The first stage was the synthesis of PMMA particles by soapless emulsion polymerization; the second stage was the synthesis of the PMMA–PS composite polymer particles with the PMMA particles as seeds. In the second stage of the reaction, three kinds of surfactants—sodium laurate sulfate (SLS), polyoxyethylene (POE) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), and sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20)—were used to synthesize the PMMA–PS composite particles. Both the properties and concentrations of the surfactants influenced the morphology of the composite particles significantly. Core–shell composite particles, with PS as the shell and PMMA as the core, were synthesized in the presence of a low concentration of the hydrophilic surfactant SLS. This result was the same as that in the absence of the surfactant. However, a low concentration of Tween 20 led to composite particles with a core/strawberry‐like shell morphology; the core region was a PS phase, and the strawberry‐like shell was a PS phase dispersed in a PMMA phase. With an increase in the concentration of SLS, the morphology of the composite particles changed from core (PMMA)–shell (PS) to core (PS)–shell (PMMA). Moreover, the effects of a high concentration of Tween 20 or Span 20 on the morphology of the PMMA–PS composite particles were investigated in this study. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2224–2236, 2005     

Production of micron-sized monodispersed core/shell polymethyl methacrylate/polystyrene particles by seeded dispersion polymerization

 Micron-sized monodispersed polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/polystyrene (PS) (PMMA/PS=2/1, wt ratio) composite particles consisting of PMMA-core and PS-shell were successfully produced by seeded dispersion polymerization of styrene in a methanol/water medium in the presence of about 2 μm-sized monodispersed PMMA particles. From the view point of thermodynamic equilibrium, such a morphology is difficult to form by usual seeded polymerization in a polar medium such as water. It is concluded that seeded dispersion polymerization in which almost all monomers and initiators exist in the medium has an advantage to produce core/shell polymer particles in which polymer layers accumulate in their order of the production regardless of the hydrophobicity of polymers, because of high viscosity in polymerizing particles. Received: 9 December 1996 Accepted: 26 February 1997     

Synthesis of submicron-sized peanut-shaped poly(methyl methacrylate)/polystyrene particles by seeded soap-free emulsion polymerization

Submicron-sized peanut-shaped poly(methyl methacrylate)/polystyrene(PMMA/PS) particles were successfully synthesized by seeded soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene on the spherical crosslinked PMMA seed particles.The obtained peanut-shaped particles showed a novel internal morphology:PS phase formed one domain which linked to the other domain having PMMA core encased by PS shell.     

Synthesis of iron oxide/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite latex particles: Nucleation mechanism and morphology

A magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite latex was prepared by soapless emulsion polymerization in the presence of ferrofluid, and the ferrofluid was prepared by means of a coprecipitation method. The effects of various polymerization parameters, such as the monomer concentration, ferrofluid content, and initiator concentration, on the conversion curve and particle size of the magnetic composite latex particles were examined in detail. The results showed that two nucleation mechanisms were involved according to the polymerization conditions. In the monomer‐rich and less ferrofluid system, self‐nucleation of PMMA was dominant over the entire course of emulsion polymerization. In the ferrofluid‐rich system, seeded emulsion polymerization was the main course to form the magnetic composite latex particles. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5695–5705, 2004     

PMMA/PS纳米复合材料的制备及分散相稳定性研究

纳米复合材料具有许多优异的性能,但是由于纳米粒子常常很难以纳米尺寸均匀地分散在基体中,有时即使实现了纳米级分散,在后加工或应用过程中又会发生二次团聚,使得纳米材料的特性不能充分发挥．因此,要获得性能优异的纳米复合材料首先必须解决纳米材料在基体中的均匀、稳定分散问题．     

Synthesis and properties of silica/polystyrene/polyaniline conductive composite particles

In this study, silica/polystyrene/polyaniline (SiO₂/PS/PANI) conductive composite particles were synthesized by four sequential reactions. The nanosized SiO₂ particles were synthesized from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) by a sol–gel process with water as the solvent medium, followed by a surface modification with triethoxyvinylsilane; then the surface modified SiO₂ particles were used as seeds to synthesize SiO₂/PS composite particles with soapless seeded emulsion polymerization. Finally, the SiO₂/PS particles were used as seeds to synthesize the SiO₂/PS/PANI conductive composite particles. The sol–gel process of SiO₂, the effect of surface modification, and several other factors that influenced polymerization of styrene in the soapless seeded emulsion polymerization will be discussed. Either potassium persulfate (KPS) or 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyramidine) dihydrochloride (AIBA) was used as the initiator to synthesize the uniform SiO₂/PS particles successfully, and the cross‐section morphology of the SiO₂/PS particles was found to be of a core–shell structure, with SiO₂ as the core, and PS as the shell. The SiO₂/PS particles were well dispersed in many organic solvents. In the following step to synthesize SiO₂/PS/PANI conductive composite particles, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) played an important role, specifically, to absorb aniline onto the surfaces of the SiO₂/PS particles to carry out the polymerization of aniline over the entire surface of the particles. The conductivity of the SiO₂/PS/PANI composite particles approached that of semiconductive materials. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 342–354, 2005     

Synthesis and morphology of Fe3O4/polystyrene/poly(isopropylacrylamide‐co‐methyl acrylate acid) magnetic composite latex – 2,2′‐azobis (2‐methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride as initiator

In this work, Fe₃O₄/polystyrene/poly(N‐isopropylacryl amide‐co‐methylacrylate acid) (Fe₃O₄/PS/P(NIPAAM‐co‐MAA)) magnetic composite latex was synthesized by the method of two stage emulsion polymerization. In this reaction system, 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methyl propionamidine) dihydrochloride (AIBA) was used as initiator to initiate the first stage reaction and second stage reaction. The Fe₃O₄ particles were prepared by a traditional coprecipitation method. Fe₃O₄ particles were surface treated by either PAA oligomer or lauric acid to form the stable ferrofluid. The first stage for the synthesis of magnetic composite latex was to synthesize PS in the presence of ferrofluid by soapless emulsion polymerization to form the Fe₃O₄/PS composite latex particles. Following the first stage of reaction, the second stage of polymerization was carried out by the method of soapless emulsion polymerization with NIPAAM and MAA as monomers and Fe₃O₄/PS latex as seeds. The magnetic composite particles, Fe₃O₄/PS/P(NIPAAM‐co‐MAA), were thus obtained. The mechanism of the first stage reaction and second stage reaction were investigated. Moreover, the effects of PAA and lauric acid on the reaction kinetics, morphology, and particle size distribution were studied. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3912–3921, 2007     

悬浮-乳液复合聚合聚苯乙烯-聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯复合粒子的颗粒特性和成粒机理

采用在苯乙烯 (St)悬浮聚合过程中滴加甲基丙烯酸甲酯 (MMA)乳液聚合组分的悬浮 乳液复合聚合方法 ,制备大粒径聚苯乙烯 聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯 (PS PMMA)复合粒子 .研究聚合物粒径分布和颗粒形态的变化发现 ,在St悬浮反应中期滴加MMA乳液聚合组分后 ,聚合体系逐渐由悬浮粒子与乳胶粒子并存向形成单峰分布复合粒子转变 ,最终形成核 壳结构完整的大粒径PS PMMA复合粒子 ;在St悬浮反应初期滴加MMA乳液聚合组分 ,St与MMA一起分散成更小液滴 ,反应后期凝并成非核 壳结构复合粒子 ;在St悬浮反应后期滴加MMA乳液聚合组分 ,PMMA乳胶粒子与PS悬浮粒子基本独立存在 .根据以上结果 ,提出了St MMA悬浮 乳液复合聚合的成粒机理 .     

Effect of graft polymer on the formation of micron-sized,monodisperse, "onion-like" alternately multilayered poly(methyl methacrylate)/polystyrene composite particles by reconstruction of morphology with the solvent-absorbing/releasing method

Some factors contributing to the formation of an alternately multilayered structure of micron-sized, monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/polystyrene (PS) (1/1, w/w) composite particles by reconstruction of the morphology with the solvent-absorbing/releasing method (SARM) were discussed. The original composite particles, which were produced by seeded dispersion polymerization (SDP) of styrene, had a core–shell structure. When PS/PMMA (1/1, w/w) composite particles produced by SDP of methyl methacrylate were treated by the SARM with toluene, the reconstructed morphology of the composite particles was not the multilayered structure but a hemisphere (or core–shell). The PS/PMMA composite particle contained less than 10 wt% PMMA- g-PS. On the other hand, the PMMA/PS composite particles contained about 40 wt% graft polymer. The graft polymer would exist at the interfaces of the alternate multilayers and decrease their interfacial energy. This was the main reason why the alternately multilayered structure was constructed by the SARM, though the total interfacial area between PMMA and PS layers in the multilayered particle is much larger than that of the hemisphere (or core–shell).     

Preparation of Composite Polymer Particles by Seeded Dispersion Polymerization in Ionic Liquids

Summary: Submicron-sized monodisperse PS particles were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene in ionic liquids with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as stabilizer. Seeded dispersion polymerization of MMA was subsequently carried out with PS seeds in [Bmim][BF₄] to prepare PS/PMMA composite particles. Observation of the obtained particles of ultrathin cross-sections with a scanning and transmission electron microscope revealed that no secondary nucleation occurred during the seeded dispersion polymerization and that the particles have a core-shell morphology consisting of a PS core and a PMMA shell. Successful preparation of PS/PMMA composite particles in an ionic liquid has thus been demonstrated. Moreover, PS/PAA (PS-core/PAA-shell) composite particles were prepared by seeded dispersion polymerization in [DEME][TFSI], illustrating that hydrophobic/hydrophilic composite particles can be readily prepared in the ionic liquid.     

Preparation of micron-sized nonspherical polystyrene/poly(styrene-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) particles by seeded soap-free emulsion polymerization

Micron-sized nonspherical polymer particles having different morphologies were synthesized by seeded soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene(St) and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate(EGDMA,used as a crosslinker) on spherical, linear polystyrene(PS) seed particles.The morphology of the resulting PS/poly(St-co-EGDMA) particles was dependent on the crosslinker concentration and polymerization temperature.     

Semi-continuous emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of poly(methyl methacrylate) seed particles. Polymerization conditions giving core-shell particles

This work reports the morphology of two-phase latex particles prepared by semi-continuous seed emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of polar poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, seed particles, using different conditions of non-polar styrene feed rate, rate of initiation, seed particle concentration and temperature of polymerization.The expected latex particle morphology at thermodynamic equilibrium is an inverted core-shell structure where the non-polar polystyrene would form the core. However, depending on the set of process conditions used the morphology of the resulting two-phase particles varied from that of a pure core-shell structure, over intermediate structures in which a shell of PS surrounded a PMMA core containing an increasing number of PS phase domains, to a structure in which the entire PS phase was present as discrete PS phase domain, more or less evenly distributed in a matrix of PMMA.By the use of a caloirimetric reactor system the monomer concentration in the particles during the different polymerization experiments could be calculated by comparing the integral of the polymerization rate curve with the integral of the monomer feed rate. A comparison between particle morphology and the calculated concentration of plasticizing monomer in the polymerizing particles strongly suggested that the diffusivity of the entering oligo radicals determined by the difference between polymerization temperature and the glass transition temperature of the monomer-swollen core polymer is a key factor determining the morphology of two-phase particles prepared by semi-continuous seed emulsion polymerization.Two-phase particles with a true core-shell structure were obtained in experiments where the estimated glass transition temperature of the PMMA phase was only a few degrees below the polymerization temperature. The results show that such particles can be obtained under conditions of high as well as low styrene feed rates, provided that the rate of initiation is properly adjusted.     

Production of micron-sized monodispersed core/shell composite polymer particles by seeded dispersion polymerization

 The effect of the weight ratio of seed polymer/monomer on the morphology of the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/polystyrene (PS) monodispersed composite particles produced by batch seeded dispersion polymerization of styrene with 1.64-μm-sized monodispersed PMMA seed particles in a methanol/water medium (4/1 w/w) was examined. In the PMMA/PS weight ratios of 3/1 and 2/1, the composite particles had a clear morphology consisting of a PMMA core and a PS shell. In the ratio of 1/1, a lot of small PS domains were observed in the PMMA core though the PS shell was still formed. By stepwise addition of styrene monomer, the formation of the small PS domain was depressed and complete core/shell morphology was formed. Absorption/release treatments of toluene into/from the PMMA/PS (1/1 w/w) composite particles resulted in a drastic morphological change from the core/shell structure to a multi- layered one. Received: 2 February 1999 Accepted in revised form: 7 April     

Thermodynamic analysis of the morphology of monomer-adsorbed,cross-linked polymer particles prepared by the dynamic swelling method and seeded polymerization

Thermodynamic simulation of the morphology of monomer-adsorbed, cross-linked polymer particles prepared by the dynamic swelling method which the authors proposed was conducted to clarify its thermodynamic stability from the viewpoint of the total interfacial free energy. By comparing it with experimental results reported in previous articles, it was found that the morphology was controlled thermodynamically. Snowman-shaped composite polymer particles having different morphologies were prepared by seeded polymerization of the monomer-adsorbed, cross-linked polymer particles, in which the polymer particles had different cross-linking densities.     

种子乳液聚合中复合乳胶粒结构形态的热力学分析

为了得到一种能够预测和控制乳胶粒结构形成的定量方法，本研究选用含有两 种聚合物乳胶粒(P_a和P_b)和水的体系作为模型体系来模拟种子乳液聚合体系，在 不考虑动力学因素的条件下，对乳胶粒可能出现的三种极限形态进行了热力学分析 。结果表明，最终乳胶粒稳定的结构形态不仅取决于体系中的P_a，P_b和水三者之 间的界面张力γ_(aw)，γ_(bw)和γ_(ab)，而且还取决于两聚合物的体积分数 V_a和V_b。形成P_a/P_b型正核壳结构乳胶粒的热力学必要条件是(γ_(aw)-γ_ (bw))/γ_(ab) > V_a~(2/3)-V_b~(2/3)和(γ_(aw)-γ_(ab))/γ_(bw) > (1- V_b~(2/3))/V_a~(2/3)；形成P_a/P_b型反核壳结构乳胶粒的热力学必要条件是(γ _(aw)-γ_(bw))/γ_(ab) < V_a~(2/3)-V_b~(2/3)和(γ_(bw)-γ_(ab))/γ_(aw) > (1-V_a~(2/3))/V_b~(2/3)。对以聚丙烯酸酯为种子有机硅氧烷的乳液聚合体系 的初步研究结果表明，所得乳胶粒的结构形态与利用上述热力学关系式预测的结果 基本一致。     

Synthesis of core-shell latexes by redox initiation at ambient temperatures

Core-shell polymer composites made by two-stage emulsion polymerizations are useful in many applications. In systems involving a hydrophilic/hydrophobic polymer pair, a core-shell arrangement is thermodynamically unfavorable and may be difficult to achieve. To counteract the thermodynamic forces in such a system, the mobility of the phases can be reduced to such an extent that a core-shell morphology is achieved. This was accomplished in a PMMA/PS two-stage system by lowering the second-stage polymerization temperature to room temperature using a redox initiator. At this relatively low temperature, a core-shell morphology was obtained even when the second-stage was carried out as a batch polymerization. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pickering emulsion polymerization of graphene oxide-stabilized styrene

Polystyrene (PS) particles were prepared via Pickering emulsion polymerization using graphene oxide (GO) as the stabilizer. The results show that pH is an important factor in the stability of Pickering emulsions. The effects of two different phase initiators, the water phase initiator potassium persulfate and the oil phase initiator azobisisobutyronitrile, on the morphology of PS particles in Pickering emulsion polymerization had been investigated in detail. Wrinkled particles were prepared using the water phase initiator, and spherical particles were prepared using the oil phase initiator. In addition, hexadecane was used as the auxiliary stabilizer in the polymerization, which narrowed the diameter distribution of the PS spheres, and the hollow PS spheres were fabricated. The size of the GO particles also influenced the final morphology of the particles. Nano-sized polymer particles were grafted onto the surface of micro-sized GO. Small GO particles were suitable for Pickering emulsion polymerization to prepare the composite particles. The thermogravimetric analysis of the prepared particles confirmed that they were PS/GO composite particles, which could have a wide range of potential applications, such as in catalysts, sensors, environmental remediation, and energy storage.     

Preparation and clinical application of immunomagnetic latex

Magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) [P(MMA–MAA)] composite polymer latices were synthesized by two‐stage soapless emulsion polymerization in the presence of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) ferrofluids. Different types and concentrations of fatty acids were reacted with the Fe₃O₄ particles, which were prepared by the coprecipitation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) salts to obtain stable Fe₃O₄ ferrofluids. The Fe₃O₄/polymer particles were monodisperse, and the composite polymer particle size was approximately 100 nm. The morphology of the magnetic composite polymer latex particles was a core–shell structure. The core was PMMA encapsulating Fe₃O₄ particles, and the shell was the P(MMA–MAA) copolymer. The carboxylic acid functional groups (COOH) of methacrylic acid (MAA) were mostly distributed on the surface of the composite polymer latex particles. Antibodies (anti‐human immunoglobulin G) were then chemically bound with COOH groups onto the surface of the magnetic core–shell composite latices through the medium of carbodiimide to form the antibody‐coated magnetic latices (magnetic immunolatices). The MAA shell composition of the composite latex could be adjusted to control the number of COOH groups and thus the number of antibody molecules on the magnetic composite latex particles. With a magnetic sorting device, the magnetic immunolatices derived from the magnetic PMMA/P(MMA–MAA) core–shell composite polymer latex performed well in cell‐separation experiments based on the antigen–antibody reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1342–1356, 2005     

Morphology and grafting in polybutylacrylate-polystyrene core-shell emulsion polymerization

The morphology of polybutylacrylate–polystyrene (PBA–PS) core-shell latex particles prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization was investigated as a function of the addition method of styrene (St). The thin layer chromatography/flame ionization detector (TLC–FID) technique was used to characterize the morphology of the core-shell latexes. It was found that grafting PS to the PBA core occurs during seeded emulsion polymerization. The percentage of grafting depended on the method of addition of St, being greatest for the batch reaction, less for the preswollen batch reaction, and least for the semibatch reaction. Upon aging the PBA core-polymer migrated out of the latex particles with a low degree of grafting to form dumbellshaped particles, whereas the PBA–PS core-shell particles with a high degree of grafting remained spherical because of the emulsifying ability of graft copolymer.