| Abstract: | Uniform polystyrene particles in 1–10 μm size range and up to 40% solid contents have been prepared by polymerizing styrene in ethyl alcohol with azo-type initiators and a polymeric stabilizer polyvinylpyrrolidone along with an anionic, nonionic, or comonomeric co-stabilizer. Effects of polymerization parameters, such as monomer concentration, type of co-stabilizer, initiator type and concentration, crosslinking monomer, and diluent on average particle size and size distribution have been studied. Functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, amide, silane, polydimethylsiloxane, and silacrown have been successfully incorporated onto the particles by copolymerization. A mechanism for particle formation and growth in dispersion polymerization is presented. |
