Poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) microspheres by dispersion polymerization

Poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide)‐based microspheres were prepared by ammonium persulfate (APS)‐initiated and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP)‐stabilized dispersion polymerization. The effects of various polymerization parameters, including concentration of N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm) crosslinker, monomer, initiator, stabilizer and polymerization temperature on their properties were elucidated. The hydrogel microspheres were described in terms of their size and size distribution and morphological and temperature‐induced swelling properties. While scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphology of the microspheres, the temperature sensitivity of the microspheres was demonstrated by dynamic light scattering. The hydrodynamic particle diameter decreased sharply as the temperature reached a critical temperature ～ 30 °C. A decrease in the particle size was observed with increasing concentration of both the APS initiator and the PVP stabilizer. The microspheres crosslinked with 2–15 wt % of MBAAm had a fairly narrow size distribution. It was found that the higher the content of the crosslinking agent, the lower the swelling ratio. High concentration of the crosslinker gave unstable dispersions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6263–6271, 2008     

反应原料组成对单分散苯乙烯微球粒径及其分布的影响

采用分散聚合工艺制备微米级单分散聚苯乙烯微球，并对分散聚合反应的内部影响因素(分散稳定剂、助稳定剂、单体、引发剂)进行了研究．结果表明，随着分散稳定剂和助稳定剂用量的增加，聚苯乙烯微球的粒径减小；随着单体和引发剂用量的增加，聚苯乙烯微球的粒径增大．分散稳定剂和单体用量是影响聚苯乙烯微球粒径分布的两个主要内部因素．     

Effects of the reaction parameters on the properties of thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) microspheres prepared by precipitation and dispersion polymerization

Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)‐based microspheres were prepared by precipitation and dispersion polymerization. The effects of several reaction parameters, such as the type and concentration of the crosslinker (N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide or ethylene dimethacrylate), medium polarity, concentration of the monomer and initiator, and polymerization temperature, on the properties were examined. The hydrogel microspheres were characterized in terms of their chemical structure, size and size distribution, and morphological and temperature‐induced swelling properties. A decrease in the particle size was observed with increasing polarity of the reaction medium or increasing concentration of poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) as a stabilizer in the dispersion polymerization. The higher the content was of the crosslinking agent, the lower the swelling ratio was. Too much crosslinker gave unstable dispersions. Although the solvency of the precipitation polymerization mixture controlled the PNIPAAm microsphere size in the range of 0.2–1 μm, a micrometer range was obtained in the Shellvis 50 and Kraton G 1650 stabilized dispersion polymerizations of N‐isopropylacrylamide in toluene/heptane. Typically, the particles had fairly narrow size distributions. Copolymerization with the functional glycidyl methacrylate monomer afforded microspheres with reactive oxirane groups. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 968–982, 2006     

Effect of reaction parameters on the dispersion polymerization of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone

Nonporous hydrogel microspheres 0.1–1.3 μm in diameter were prepared by the dispersion copolymerization of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and ethylene dimethacrylate as a crosslinking agent. The crosslinking was evidenced by solid state ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis. The effect of various parameters including selection of solvent (cyclohexane, butyl acetate), initiator (4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanopentanoic acid), 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile, dibenzoyl peroxide) and stabilizer on the properties of resulting microspheres has been studied. Dynamic light scattering and photographic examination were used for determination of the diameter and polydispersity of microspheres. Increasing concentration of steric stabilizer in the initial polymerization mixture decreased the particle size. The particle size depended on the molecular weight of polystyrene‐block‐hydrogenated polyisoprene stabilizer, but not on the number of PS and polybutadiene blocks in the styrene–butadiene block copolymer stabilizers. Dibenzoyl peroxide used as an initiator resulted in agglomeration of particles. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 653–663, 2000     

Controllable Preparation of Monodisperse Polystyrene Microspheres with Different Sizes by Dispersion Polymerization

Summary: Monodisperse polystyrene (PS) microspheres with different sizes were prepared by dispersion polymerization in dispersion media of ethanol/water and isopropayl alcohol/water, respectively. The effect of polarity of the dispersion medium, stabilizer and initiator concentration on the average sizes and size range were evaluated. The results show that monodisperse PS microspheres with different sizes could be prepared in dispersion media of ethanol and isopropyl alcohol/water when appropriate initiator and stabilizer concentrations were employed, and the latter is a more appropriate medium to prepare uniform PS microspheres. It was found that the microsphere sizes reduced with increasing water content in the dispersion medium. Furthermore, in isopropyl alcohol/water dispersions, the average sizes decreased with increasing stabilizer concentration.     

Synthesis of highly crosslinked monodisperse polymer particles: Effect of reaction parameters on the size and size distribution

Monodisperse polystyrene particles crosslinked with different concentrations of divinylbenzene were synthesized in the 3.2–9.1 μm size range by dispersion polymerization in an isopropyl alcohol/toluene mixed‐dispersion medium with poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) as a steric stabilizer and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator. The effects of the reaction parameters such as the crosslinking agent concentration, media solvency (controlled by varying the amount of toluene addition), the initiator concentration, and the stabilizer concentration on the particle size and size distribution were investigated with reference particles with a monodisperse size distribution and crosslinked by 1.5 wt % divinylbenzene. The appropriate increase in media solvency was a prerequisite for preparing crosslinked particles without coagulated and/or odd‐shaped particles. The investigation of the effects of the polymerization parameters also shows that only specific sets of conditions produce particles with a monodisperse size distribution. The glass‐transition temperatures of the particles increased with increasing divinylbenzene concentration. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4368–4377, 2002     

Magnetic poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate) microspheres by dispersion polymerization

Crosslinked poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐based magnetic microspheres were prepared in a simple one‐step procedure by dispersion polymerization in the presence of several kinds of iron oxides. Cellulose acetate butyrate and dibenzoyl peroxide were used as steric stabilizer and polymerization initiator, respectively, and ethylene dimethacrylate was a crosslinking agent. The resulting product was characterized in terms of particle size, particle size distribution, iron(III) content, and magnetic properties. In the presence of needle‐like maghemite in the polymerization mixture and under suitable conditions, magnetic microspheres with relatively narrow size distribution were formed. An increase in the particle size and, at the same time, a decrease in molecular weight of uncrosslinked polymers resulted, as the continuous phase became richer in 2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol. Coercive force of needle‐like maghemite‐containing particles was higher than that of cubic magnetite‐loaded microspheres. Coercive force increased with the decreasing iron content in the particles. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1161–1171, 2000     

Preparation of Monodisperse Cationic Microspheres by Dispersion Polymerization of Styrene and a Cation-Charged Monomer in the Absence of a Stabilizer

Cationic polystyrene (PS) microspheres with monodispersity were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene and [2-(methacyrloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (METMAC) in methanol/water system. The effects of METMAC, styrene, and initiator concentration as well as solvent composition on the diameters and size distribution of PS microspheres were systematically investigated. The results indicated that monodisperse cationic PS microspheres could be generated at METMAC concentration less than 2 mol% relative to styrene amount, and too high or low styrene amount was unfavorable to produce cationic PS microspheres. Moreover, it was found that with initiator concentration increasing, the average diameter and the size distribution of cationic PS microspheres also markedly increased. Solvent composition played a significantly important role in the preparation of cationic PS microspheres by dispersion polymerization of styrene and METMAC. Finally, the possible growth and stabilization mechanism of cationic PS microspheres was proposed. The electrostatic repulsion derived from positive charge on the surface of PS microspheres was responsible for the stabilization during dispersion polymerization in the absence of a stabilizer.     

分散聚合与水热处理相结合制备单分散聚苯乙烯微球的研究

将分散聚合与水热处理相结合,以聚乙烯醇为稳定剂,以乙醇和水为分散介质,三羟甲基丙烷三丙烯酸酯为交联剂,一步法成功制备得到不同粒径的单分散交联聚苯乙烯微球.以乙醇/水的比例为50/50的反应体系为基础,研究了聚乙烯醇类型和含量,有机相含量,引发剂浓度,以及水热釜填充量等对所制备的微球形貌的影响,发现聚乙烯醇类稳定剂的分子量的降低和含量的增多倾向于生成黏连的微球;在有交联剂的条件下,不含稳定剂的体系仍能够得到单分散的交联PS微球;有机相含量的增加会导致微球呈现多分散性;而体系中引发剂的含量和反应液在水热釜中的填充量对微球的形貌影响不大.进一步针对水热法的特点分析探讨了一步法成功制备单分散的交联聚苯乙烯微球的原因及其机理.     

Synthesis of monodisperse polystyrene microspheres by dispersion polymerization using sodium polyaspartate

We prepared monodisperse polystyrene microspheres by dispersion polymerization using sodium polyaspartate (PAspNa) as a dispersion stabilizer in an ethanol/water medium. The influence of reaction parameters, i.e., the volume fraction of ethanol in the medium, stabilizer concentration, and the monomer concentration, on the average diameter of the prepared polystyrene microspheres and its distribution were investigated. Polystyrene microspheres were successfully prepared, and the average diameter of the prepared monodisperse polystyrene microspheres was controlled by adjusting the reaction parameters. The zeta potential of the microspheres and the time course of conversion, the particle diameter and its distribution, and particle numbers were also examined. It was found that PAspNa as a dispersion stabilizer provides an environmentally benign process for the preparation of monodisperse polymer microspheres by dispersion polymerization.     

Photoinitiated dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate: A quick approach to prepare polymer microspheres with narrow size distribution

Photoinitiated dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out in a mixture of ethanol and water as dispersion medium in the presence of poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as the steric stabilizer and Darocur 1173 as photoinitiator. 93.7% of conversion was achieved within 30 min of UV irradiation at room temperature, and microspheres with 0.94 μm number–average diameter and 1.04 polydispersity index (PDI) were obtained. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) analysis revealed that only parts of surface of the microspheres were covered by PVP. The particle size decreased from 2.34 to 0.98 μm as the concentration of PVP stabilizer increased from 2 to 15%. Extra stabilizer (higher than 15%) has no effect on the particle size and distribution. Increasing medium polarity or decreasing monomer and photoinitiator concentration resulted in a decrease in the particle size. Solvency of reaction medium toward stabilizer, which affects the adsorption of stabilizer on the particle surface, was shown to be crucial for controlling particle size and uniformity because of the high reaction rate in photoinitiated dispersion polymerization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1329–1338, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of new radiopaque microspheres by the dispersion polymerization of an iodinated acrylate monomer for X‐ray imaging applications

Radiopaque microspheres of sizes ranging from 0.2 to 1.4 μm were formed by the dispersion polymerization of the monomer 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl(2,3,5‐triiodobenzoate) in 2‐methoxyethanol. The effects of various polymerization parameters, including the monomer concentration, initiator type and concentration, and stabilizer molecular weight and concentration, on the molecular weight, size, and size distribution of the particles were elucidated. The characterization of these iodinated microspheres was accomplished with routine methods such as Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurements, and elemental analysis. Because of the presence of iodine atoms in these microspheres, they were expected to possess a radiopaque nature. The radiopacity of these particles dispersed in water and in the dry state was demonstrated with an imaging technique based on X‐ray absorption usually used in hospitals. These novel radiopaque microspheres may be used for different X‐ray imaging needs, such as blood pooling, body organs, embolization, dental compositions, implants, prostheses, and nanocomposites. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3859–3868, 2006     

乙酸乙酯/乙醇混合溶液中分散聚合制备单分散亚微米级聚丙烯酰胺微球

以乙酸乙酯/乙醇混合溶液为分散介质, PVP为分散剂, 通过分散聚合法合成了单分散亚微米级PAM微球. 在反应初期, 自动加速现象明显. 由于凝胶效应的影响, 分子量随着单体转化率的提高而逐渐增大. 考察了分散剂浓度对最终产物增率的影响, 并用IR光谱对产物的结构进行了表征, 证明分散聚合体系中吸附稳定机理和接枝稳定机理同时存在, 且以后者为主. 同时还研究了混合溶剂比例、分散剂浓度、初始单体浓度和引发剂浓度对微球粒径及粒径分布的影响. 结果表明, 乙酸乙酯/乙醇体积比在5∶5-7∶3范围内, 可得到粒径在200 nm左右, 且分布较窄的PAM微球; 分散剂浓度增大, 粒径减小; 引发剂浓度增加, 粒径增大; 初始单体浓度较高或较低时, 都得不到单分散性微球.     

Synthesis and characterization of spherical and hemispherical polyepoxide micrometer‐sized particles of narrow size distribution by a single‐step swelling of uniform polystyrene template microspheres with glycidyl methacrylate

Polystyrene template microspheres of narrow size distribution were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene in a mixture of ethanol and 2‐methoxy ethanol. Spherical and hemispherical polystyrene/poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres of narrow size distribution were prepared by a single‐step swelling of the polystyrene template microspheres with the swelling solvent monomer glycidyl methacylate, followed by polymerization of the monomer within the swollen template microspheres at 73 °C. Uniform polystyrene/poly(glycidyl methacylate‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) polyepoxide composite microspheres were synthesized similarly, substituting glycidyl methacylate for glycidyl methacylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. Uniform crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacylate‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) polyepoxide microspheres have been prepared by dissolution of the PS template polymer of the former composite microspheres. Particles with different properties, for example size, size distribution, shape, surface morphology, surface area, and so forth, were prepared by changing various parameters belonging to the swelling and/or polymerization steps, for example, volume of the swelling monomer/s and/or the swelling solvent dibutyl phthalate. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4612–4622, 2007     

Stabilizer‐free dispersion copolymerization of maleic anhydride and vinyl acetate. I. Effects of principal factors on microspheres

A novel dispersion copolymerization of maleic anhydride (MAn) and vinyl acetate (VAc) without adding stabilizer is developed, which gives uniform copolymer microspheres with tunable sizes. Some principal factors affecting the microspheres, such as reaction time, monomer concentration and feed ratio, reaction media, and cosolvent, were investigated. It was found that the stabilizer‐free dispersion copolymerization of MAn and VAc is a rapid process, and the particle size grows in accordance with the evolution of polymerization. The chemical composition of the copolymer microspheres was characterized by FT‐IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. Over a wide range of monomer concentrations, the microspheres can always be formed and stably dispersed, with uniform sizes ranging from 180 nm to 740 nm. The yield of copolymer microspheres reaches a maximum at 1:1 feed ratio of MAn to VAc, owing to the alternating copolymerization between the binary monomers by a known charge‐transfer‐complex mechanism. However, the diameter of microspheres drastically increases when MAn content is enhanced. Only some specific alkyl ester solvents, such as n‐butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n‐amyl acetate, are desirably fit for this unique stabilizer‐free dispersion polymerization. Furthermore, we found that when some acetone is added as a cosolvent, the copolymer microspheres can still be formed, with much larger diameters. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3760–3770, 2005     

Polyepichlorohydrine stabilized core shell microspheres by dispersion polymerization

Polystyrene microspheres ranging in diameter from 2 to 10 μm were prepared by dispersion polymerization in the presence of polyepichlorohydrine as the steric stabilizer precursor in alcoholic media. To clarify the effects of the solvent mixture composition, initiator concentration and steric stabilizer amount on the microsphere characteristics, including the molar mass parameters of the polymeric material, the microsphere size, and the steric stabilizer surface density, a three-factor full factorial design involving two levels of each of the factors and replicate experiments was employed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 681–688, 1997     

苯乙烯/二乙烯基苯在乙醇/乙二醇单甲醚中分散共聚合速率及粒子大小的研究

以乙醇 乙二醇单甲醚 (EOH EGME)为介质 ,羟丙基纤维素 (HPC)为稳定剂 ,偶氮二异丁腈 (AIBN)为引发剂进行了苯乙烯和二乙烯基苯的分散共聚合研究 .制得粒径在 6～ 10 μm范围内的单分散交联聚苯乙烯微球 (CPS) .探讨了不同介质配比 ,以及苯乙烯、二乙烯基苯、引发剂的浓度对微球大小、粒径分布、聚合速率及稳定性的影响 .当苯乙烯和AIBN浓度增加时 ,聚合速率和平均粒子尺寸增加 ,而粒子分布变宽 ,粒子数先增加 ,而后降低 .随着EOH EGME比例的增加 ,平均粒子尺寸增加 ,而分布指数降低 ,稳定剂增加 ,粒子尺寸降低和粒子数增加 ,但对聚合速率及粒子分布影响不太明显 .另外还探讨了单体和交联剂的后滴加法对微球大小、粒径分布的影响     

Synthesis and characterization of micrometer‐sized particles of narrow size distribution with chloromethyl functionality on the basis of single‐step swelling of uniform polystyrene template microspheres

Polystyrene template microspheres of 1.4 ± 0.1 μm were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene in a mixture of ethanol and 2‐methoxy ethanol. These template particles were then swelled at room temperature in a single step with emulsion that was prepared in sodium dodecyl sulfate aqueous solution from a swelling solvent (dibutyl phthalate) containing the initiator (benzoyl peroxide) and monomer(s) (chlormethylstyrene, divinylbenzene, or ethylene dimethacrylate). Composite uniform particles composed of the template polystyrene and noncrosslinked or crosslinked polychloromethylstyrene were prepared by polymerizing the monomer(s) within the swelled particles at 73 °C. Crosslinked uniform polychloromethylstyrene particles of higher surface area were formed by dissolving the template polystyrene polymer of the composite particles. The influence of various reaction parameters, such as dibuthyl phthalate concentration, chloromethylstyrene concentration, crosslinker type and concentration, and so forth on the molecular weight, size, size distribution, shape, morphology, surface area, and decomposition temperature of the particles was investigated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1342–1352, 2002     

单分散、大粒径聚苯乙烯微球的制备

以聚乙烯基吡咯烷酮为分散剂、偶氮二异丁腈为引发剂、醇／水混合物为分散介质进行了苯乙烯的分散聚合，讨论了初始单体浓度、分散剂用量、引发剂浓度、分散介质组成和反应温度等反应条件对所得聚合物颗粒直径和直径分布的影响．通过大量的试验，筛选出了较为理想的分散聚合的条件及配方，制备出了粒径为４８μｍ的单分散聚苯乙烯微球．然后，以分散聚合所制得的聚合物颗粒为种子，用动力学溶胀法制成了粒径增大近四倍的单分散、大粒径聚苯乙烯微球，并讨论了滴水速度和补加分散剂对溶胀的影响     

Investigation of stabilizer‐free dispersion polymerization process of styrene and maleic anhydride copolymer microspheres

The copolymer microspheres of styrene (St) and maleic anhydride (MA) were synthesized by stabilizer‐free dispersion polymerization, and the polymerization process was explored in detail. The results showed that the homopolymerization of St formed in initial polymerization period served as stabilizer, and reaction solvent of closer solubility parameter would benefit the stabilizer‐free dispersion polymerization. In addition, some principal factors affecting the microspheres size, such as reaction time, reaction temperature, monomer concentration, molar feed ratio, reaction media, and cosolvent, were investigated as well. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010