Preparation of Latexes with Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Cores and Hydrophilic Polymer Shells Containing Amino Groups

Abstract

Functional latexes with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cores and amino‐containing, water‐soluble polymer shells were synthesized via direct graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate from water‐soluble polymers induced by a small amount of tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) at 80°C for 2 h. Amphiphilic graft copolymers and PMMA homopolymers were generated concurrently to form highly monodispersed latexes. The effects of water‐soluble polymer containing different amino group, reaction temperature, TBHP concentration, molecular weight of the polymer and pH of the solution on conversion and grafting efficiency of the monomer and particle size were investigated. Transmission electron microscopic images of the PMMA/poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) and PMMA/poly(allylamine) (PAA) particles clearly show well‐defined core‐shell morphologies, where PMMA cores are coated with either PEI or PAA shell. The amino‐containing polymer shells were also confirmed with zeta‐potential measurements. Furthermore, the amino‐containing latexes can be produced with a solids content up to 22 wt.%. Thus, this method provides a commercially viable route to functional latexes.     

Using electroless deposition for the preparation of micron sized polymer/metal core/shell particles and hollow metal spheres

Uniform and stable core-shell microspheres composed of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) core and a thin metallic shell of nickel-phosphorus, cobalt-phosphorus, or mixed metal alloys (CoNiP, NiFeP, CoFeP) were prepared by dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate followed by electroless plating. The presence of the metallic shell around the particles was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and photoelectron spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy images of the cross-section of individual particles show that the thickness of the metal/alloy can be precisely tuned by adjusting the immersion time of the microspheres in the electroless bath. Depending on the deposited metallic material, various magnetic properties, from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic, are achieved. Finally, uniform hollow metallic spheres composed of nickel, cobalt, or nickel-cobalt alloy are obtained by dissolving the polymer core.     

由铜-胺氧化还原引发反应一步法简便制备TiO_2表面接枝聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯纳米杂化粒子

提出并验证了一种通过普通自由基聚合在纳米TiO2表面接枝聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯的简单方法.通过在纳米TiO2粒子表面引入伯胺分子层(纳米TiO2-NH2粒子),利用Cu2+-胺氧化还原体系实现了CuSO4催化纳米TiO2-NH2粒子表面引发甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)的自由基接枝聚合,从而一步得到表面固定有聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯链的纳米TiO2杂化粒子(纳米TiO2-PMMA杂化粒子).红外光谱、热失重分析与电镜的结果都表明PMMA已经被接枝到纳米TiO2粒子表面,且接枝率随着聚合时间的延长而逐渐增大,PMMA链的引入有助于降低纳米TiO2粒子微球的团聚程度、增强与有机溶剂分子的范德华力,从而提高分散稳定性.反应溶液中没有游离均聚物形成.     

Synthesis and applications of porous spg (shirasu porous glass) microspheres

Fairly uniform porous microspheres of poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were synthesized using a particular microporous glass membrane (SPG). Average diameters of these spheres are from 2.5 to 38 μm with the coefficient of variation (CV) around 10%. A maximum specific surface area of 370 m² /g was achieved. Uniform dispersion of MMA droplets was successfully prepared only when the swelling process reported by Higuchi and Misra was adopted. Two potential applications, one as a packing material for column chromatography, and the other as a carrier of enzyme immobilization, were demonstrated.     

Multihollow structured poly(methyl methacrylate)/silver nanocomposite microspheres prepared by suspension polymerization in the presence of dual dispersion agents

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver nanocomposite microspheres with unique multihollow structures were prepared by suspension polymerization in the presence of dual dispersion agents. The addition of a lipophilic emulsifier, polyethylene glycol (30EO) dipolyhydroxystearate (Arlacel P135), not only stabilized water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion, but also converted silver nanoparticles from hydrophilic to lipophilic. When a suspension polymerization dispersion agent, poly(vinyl alcohol), was added to the above W/O emulsion system, a water-in-oil-in-water suspension was formed with silver nanoparticles dispersed in the oil phase. The suspension polymerization was carried out at low temperature with 2,2’-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as the initiator. When modified silver nanoparticles were added, the rate of polymerization increased slightly. High monomer conversion (about 85%) was obtained in spite of low polymerization temperature of 30 °C. Under controlled conditions, PMMA/silver microspheres with various hollow structures were synthesized. The PMMA/silver microspheres with multihollow structure showed high antibacterial ability.     

Polymer/Ag composite microspheres produced by water-in-oil-in-water emulsion polymerization and their application for a preservative

Nanosized Ag particles were entrapped successfully in multihollow porous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres by water-in-oil-in-water emulsion polymerization. The structure of the PMMA/Ag microspheres prepared was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analysis. It was found that the Ag nanoparticles were impregnated in the inner voids of the microspheres and they had a face-centered cubic structure. In the preservation test, the PMMA/Ag microspheres showed a powerful antibacterial performance, indicating that the Ag ions released effectively through the nanosized pore channel of the PMMA wall.     

Role of adsorbed chain rigidity in reinforcement of polymer nanocomposites

The thermomechanical behavior of polymer nanocomposites is mostly governed by interfacial properties which rely on particle–polymer interactions, particle loading, and dispersion state. We recently showed that poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) adsorbed nanoparticles in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrices displayed an unusual thermal stiffening response. The molecular origin of this unique stiffening behavior resulted from the enhanced PEO mobility within glassy PMMA chains adsorbed on nanoparticles. In addition, dynamic asymmetry and chemical heterogeneities existing in the interfacial layers around particles were shown to improve the reinforcement of composites as a result of good interchain mixing. Here, the role of chain rigidity in this interfacially controlled reinforcement in PEO composites is investigated. We show that particles adsorbed with less rigid polymers improve the mechanical properties of composites. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 9–14     

Synthesis of high molecular weight poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres by suspension polymerization in the presence of silver nanoparticles

To prepare high molecular weight (HMW) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver microspheres, methyl methacrylate was suspension-polymerized in the presence of silver nanoparticles using a low-temperature initiator at different conditions. The rate of conversion was increased with increasing initiator concentration. In the case of adding silver nanoparticles, the rate of polymerization decreased slightly. High monomer conversion (about 95%) was obtained in spite of low polymerization temperature of 30 °C. Under controlled conditions, PMMA/silver microspheres with various viscosity-average degree of polymerization (6,000–37,000) were prepared.     

pH/Thermosensitive Hydrogels Formed at Low pH by a PMMA‐PAA‐P2VP‐PAA‐PMMA Pentablock Terpolymer

A poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐poly(2‐vinyl pyridine)‐block‐poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA‐PAA‐P2VP‐PAA‐PMMA), pentablock terpolymer has been synthesized by anionic polymerization with sequential addition of monomers and studied in aqueous media at low pH. The system exhibits combined properties and adopts the behavior of ‘telechelic’ polyelectrolytes and that of double hydrophilic polyampholytes. This complex behavior leads to the pentablock terpolymer forming a pH and temperature sensitive reversible hydrogel at very low polymer concentration.

     

Synthesis of functional graft copolymers by solution copolymerization and their evaluation as dispersants in nonaqueous phase dispersion polymerization

The poly(HEMA‐co‐MMA‐g‐PMMA) graft copolymer was prepared with a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) macromonomer, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and methyl methacrylate (MMA), and its application as a dispersant for the nonaqueous phase dispersion polymerization of polystyrene (PST) was investigated. Monodisperse PST particles were obtained with two‐dimensionally tailored graft copolymers, with the number of grafted chains controlled and the polar component (HEMA) in the backbone chains balanced. As for the reactor, a stirred vessel with moderate agitation yielded uniform polymer particles, whereas sealed glass ampules with an overturning motion yielded broader size distributions. Increasing the polarity of the solvent in the continuous phase yielded smaller polymer particles with a gradual deterioration of monodispersity. Uniform polymer particles with a coefficient of variation of less than 6% were obtained up to 30 wt % solid contents. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1788–1798, 2003     

Self‐assembly of a triblock terpolymer mediated by hydrogen‐bonded complexes

A poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine)‐block‐polystyrene (PMMA‐b‐P4VP‐b‐PS) triblock terpolymer is synthesized by ATRP to study its self‐assembly with PAA in organic solvents. The self‐assembly behavior of this system is compared with the one of a mixture of two diblocks, namely polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) and poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(methacrylic acid) (PMMA‐b‐PMAA). For both systems, formation of hydrogen‐bonded complexes between the P4VP and PMAA or PAA blocks occurs. These complexes become insoluble in the solvent used and micelles with a P4VP/P(M)AA complexes core surrounded by PS and PMMA coronal chains are obtained in both cases. These micelles are analyzed by DLS and TEM. Spherical micelles are formed for both systems but the hydrodynamic radii obtained for the two types of micelles are different. Indeed, the micelles formed by the PMMA‐b‐P4VP‐b‐PS + PAA system are smaller than those observed for the PS‐b‐P4VP + PMMA‐b‐PMAA system. Finally, the effect of the molar ratio of the P4VP/PMAA complexing blocks is investigated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 459–467     

Self‐assembly behavior of amphiphilic linear‐block‐dendritic copolymers with long subchains: Dependences on dendron generation and mixing dynamics

Block copolymers composed of acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate with three topologies of double linear blocks, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) linear block/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) G1‐dendron and PAA linear block/PMMA G2‐dendron have been prepared by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and azide–alkyne click reaction. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography have been adopted thoroughly to identify the chemical structure of those block copolymers with expected topologies. The self‐assembly of those block copolymers in the selective solvent has been performed through two mixing routes of gentle and abrupt variation in solvent selectivity, and the morphology of the obtained self‐assemblies/aggregates was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Because the abrupt variation route altered sharply the solvent quality during the mixing, the intermolecular association of polymer chains resulted in the smaller self‐assemblies but the further growth of smaller self‐assemblies was not observed. On the contrary, the gentle variation route changed gradually the solvent quality during the mixing, favoring not only the intermolecular association but also the further growth of self‐assemblies to result in larger aggregates. The final morphology of those assemblies/aggregates also exhibited the dependence of PMMA dendron generation. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1446–1456     

Poly(methyl methacrylate) dispersions in decane stabilized by a diblock copolymer

In a dispersion polymerization, the monomer is miscible with the reaction medium, while the resulting polymer is insoluble under the same conditions. The macroscopic precipitation of the polymer is prevented by a steric stabilizer. Methyl methacrylate was polymerized in decane in presence of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-co-propylene) and spherical dispersion particles of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were obtained. The static light scattering yielded molar masses of particles in the range 4 × 10⁷ to 7 × 10⁹ g mol⁻¹. Dynamic light scattering provided the hydrodynamic radii from 60 to 190 nm and also information on the non-uniformity of the particles. The relations between the characteristics of the dispersion particles (concentration of components, particle mass and dimensions, molar mass of PMMA chains, surface density of stabilizing chains, etc.) were looked for. The kinetics of polymerization seems to be only little affected by the colloidal character of the system.     

Graft polymers from poly(vinyl chloride) and chlorinated rubber

Graft polymers from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and chlorinated rubber (CIR) with side chains of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), or poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) were synthesized. For this purpose, a vinyl monomer was polymerized in the presence of small quantities of PVC or CIR with benzoyl peroxide as catalyst. The graft polymers were separated from both homopolymers by precipitation with methanol from methyl ethyl ketone solutions of the reaction products and the grafting efficiency was calculated. The graft polymers were characterized by infrared spectra, elemental analysis, NMR, and osmometric or light-scattering determinations. From the results it is concluded that the PVC or CIR molecules contain side chains of PMMA, PMA, or PEMA. The graft polymers showed higher molecular weights, and the values of second virial coefficient for these polymers were much different from those of the starting polymers.     

Production of micron-sized, monodispersed, multilayered composite polymer particles by multistep seeded dispersion polymerization

 Micron-sized, monodispersed, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/polystyrene (PS)/PMMA/PS multilayered composite particles were successfully produced by three-step seeded dispersion polymerizations in methanol/water media. The first seeded dispersion polymerization was carried out with 2-μm-sized, monodispersed PMMA particles.     

Revisiting the synthesis of a well-known comb-graft copolymer stabilizer and its application to the dispersion polymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) in organic media

Polymeric stabilizers are an essential ingredient for the dispersion polymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in nonpolar media. In this contribution, we focus on the synthesis of an amphipathic copolymer consisting of pendant poly(12-hydroxystearic acid) (PHS) chains grafted to an insoluble PMMA backbone. This type of steric stabilizer is well established and capable of producing spherically shaped, monodisperse PMMA colloids. Unfortunately, the comb-graft copolymer is not available commercially; furthermore, the multistep synthesis of the desired stabilizer has proven challenging to reproduce. We discuss the practical matter of preparing PHS-graft-PMMA, and report specific techniques developed over several years in our lab. Gel permeation chromatography, mass spectroscopy, and end group analysis of the stabilizer and the precursor macromonomer reveal important, previously unreported details about the chemical synthesis. Our protocol is reproducible and resulted in the production of low polydispersity PMMA particles.     

Dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in supercritical CO2 in the presence of non-fluorous random copolymers

A series of non-fluorous random copolymers, composed of 3-[tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silyl] propyl methacrylate and 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, poly(SiMA-co-DMAEMA) with different comonomer ratios were prepared and utilized as stabilizers for the free radical dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). It was demonstrated that the composition and concentration of the stabilizer have a dramatic effect on the morphology of resulting poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) latex. When the copolymeric stabilizer poly(SiMA-co-DMAEMA) (71:29) was employed, free-flowing spherical PMMA particles were produced in high yield. As the concentration of stabilizer increases, the resulting size of colloidal particles decreases. In addition, the monomer concentration and initial pressure affected the particle diameter of PMMA.     

Effect of chain transfer agent on the radiation grafting of methyl methacrylate onto chromium(III) crosslinked collagen

Thioglycolic acid is an efficient agent for controlling the lengths of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chains grafted onto collagen. The addition of 0.006 mol of thioglycolic acid per one mol of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has no effect on the yield of grafting, but brings about a decrease in the molecular weight of grafted PMMA by about 50%. The mechanism of the grafting reaction in the presence of the chain transfer agent thioglycolic acid is discussed on the basis of the results.     

Synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate-methyl methacrylate) copolymer microspheres using suspension polymerization

Poly(vinyl acetate-methyl methacrylate) (VAc-MMA) copolymer microspheres were prepared using suspension polymerization at low temperature initiated with 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethyl valeronitrile) (ADMVN). The poly(VAc-MMA) copolymer microspheres can be used over a large area where homopolymers, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and methyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres are capable of being put to use. The prepared microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Obtained copolymer microspheres which have 200 μm average diameter and higher thermal stability than those of homopolymer.     

Copper bromide complexed by fluorinated macroligands: towards microspheres by ATRP of vinyl monomers in scCO2

We report the successful synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by atom transfer radical polymerization using a catalyst ligated to a polymeric ligand having a dual role, i.e., the complexation of the copper salt and the stabilization of the growing PMMA particles; at the end of the polymerization, the catalyst is removed by supercritical fluid extraction leading to PMMA microspheres with low residual catalyst content.