Stimuli-responsive surface localized ionic cluster (SLICs) formation from nonspherical colloidal particles

Structural features of phospholipids provide a unique opportunity for utilizing these amphiphilic species to stabilize the synthesis of colloidal dispersion particles by controlling concentration levels relative to dispersion synthesis components. 1,2-Bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DCPC) phospholipid was utilized as cosurfactant in the synthesis of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (SDOSS) stabilized methyl methacrylate/n-butyl acrylate (MMA/nBA) colloidal dispersions. Aqueous dispersions containing various concentration levels of DCPC result in the formation of cocklebur particle morphologies, and when prepared in the presence of Ca2+ and annealed at various temperatures, stimuli-responsive behaviors of coalesced films were elucidated. The formation of surface localized ionic clusters (SLICs) at the film-air (F-A) and film-substrate (F-S) interfaces is shown to be responsive to concentration levels of DCPC, Ca2+/DCPC ratios, and temperature. These studies show that it is possible to control stratification and mobility to the F-A and F-S interfaces during and after coalescence. Using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and internal reflection infrared imaging (IRIRI) spectroscopies, molecular entities responsible for SLIC formation were determined. These studies also show that stimuli-responsive behaviors during film formation can be controlled by colloidal solution morphologies and synergistic interactions of individual components.     

Synthesis of vinyl polymer-silica colloidal nanocomposites prepared using commercial alcoholic silica sols

The surfactant-free synthesis of vinyl polymer-silica nanocomposite particles has been achieved in aqueous alcoholic media at ambient temperature in the absence of auxiliary comonomers. Styrene, methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, and 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate were homopolymerized in turn in the presence of three commercially available ultrafine alcoholic silica sols. Stable colloidal dispersions with reasonably narrow size distributions were obtained, with silica contents of up to 58% by mass indicated by thermogravimetric analysis. Particle size distributions were assessed using both dynamic light scattering and disk centrifuge photosedimentometry. The former technique indicated that the particle size increased for the first 1-2 h at 25 degrees C and thereafter remained constant. Particle morphologies were studied using electron microscopy. Most of the colloidal nanocomposites comprised approximately spherical particles with relatively narrow size distributions, but in some cases more polydisperse or nonspherical particles were obtained. Selected acrylate-based nanocomposites were examined in terms of their film formation behavior. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated relatively smooth films were obtained on drying at 20 degrees C, with complete loss of the original particle morphology. The optical clarity of solution-cast 10 microm nanocomposite films was assessed using visible absorption spectrophotometry, with 93-98% transmission being obtained from 400 to 800 nm; the effect of long-term immersion of such films in aqueous solutions was also examined. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies indicated that the surface compositions of these nanocomposite particles are invariably silica-rich, which is consistent with their long-term colloidal stability and also with aqueous electrophoresis measurements. FT-IR studies suggested that in the case of the poly(methyl methacrylate)-silica nanocomposite particles, the carbonyl ester groups in the polymer are hydrogen-bonded to the surface silanol groups. According to differential scanning calorimetry studies, the glass transition temperatures of several poly(methyl methacrylate)-silica and polystyrene-silica nanocomposites can be either higher or lower than those of the corresponding homopolymers, depending on the nature of the silica sol.     

Phospholipid-assisted synthesis of stable F-containing colloidal particles and their film formation

This letter illustrates for the first time the preparation of p-methyl methacrylate/n-butyl acrylate/heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate (p-MMA/nBA/FMA) colloidal dispersions containing up to 15% w/w FMA, which is accomplished by the utilization of biologically active phospholipids (PLs) and ionic surfactants. The use of monomer-starved conditions during emulsion polymerization and the utilization of 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and phosphoric acid bis(tridecafluoro-octyl) ester ammonium salt (FSP) as surfactants, which function as transfer and dispersing agents, facilitate a suitable environment for the polymerization of p-MMA/nBA/FMA colloidal dispersions that exhibit nonspherical particle morphologies. Such nonspherical particles upon coalescence form phase-separated films with unique surface properties.     

Particle morphology as a control of permeation in polymer films obtained from MMA/nBA colloidal dispersions

The combination of precision-controlled weight loss measurements and spectroscopic surface FT-IR analysis allowed us to identify unique behaviors of poly(methyl methacrylate) (p-MMA). When MMA and n-butyl acrylate (nBA) are polymerized into p-MMA and p-nBA homopolymer blends, MMA/nBA random copolymers, and p-MMA/p-nBA core-shell morphologies, a controlled mobility and stratification of low molecular weight components occurs in films formed from coalesced colloidal dispersions. Due to different affinities toward water, p-MMA and p-nBA are capable of releasing water at different rates, depending upon particle morphological features of initial dispersions. As coalescence progresses, water molecules are released from the high free volume p-nBA particles, whereas p-MMA retains water molecules for the longest time due to its hydrophilic nature. As a result, water losses at extended coalescence times are relatively small for p-MMA. MMA/nBA copolymer and p-MMA/p-nBA blends follow the same trends, although the magnitudes of changes are not as pronounced. The p-MMA/p-nBA core-shell behavior resembles that of p-nBA homopolymer, which is attributed to significantly lower content of the p-MMA component in particles. Annealing of coalesced colloidal films at elevated temperatures causes migration of SDOSS to the F-A interface, but for films containing primarily p-nBA, reverse diffusion back into the bulk is observed. These studies illustrate that the combination of different particle morphologies and temperatures leads to controllable permeation processes through polymeric films.     

Polar Gradient Latex Particles with Hydrophilic Core and Hydrophobic Shell Prepared via Multistep Emulsion Polymerization

Monodisperse polar gradient particles were synthesized via a three‐step emulsion polymerization using poly(butyl acrylate‐methyl methacrylate‐methacrylic acid‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (P(BA‐MMA‐MAA‐EGDMA)) as core, poly(methyl methacrylate‐methacrylic acid‐styrene) (P(St‐MMA‐MAA)) as interlayer and polystyrene (PSt) as shell. The particle growth and encapsulation in each emulsion polymerization step were followed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and conductometric titration. Results indicated that the feeding mode and the interlayer were essential to prepare the polar gradient latex particles with hydrophilic core and hydrophobic shell. The morphologies of the two‐layer core/interlayer and three‐layer core/interlayer/shell particles were observed in TEM micrographs, and the sequential encapsulations of the carboxyl‐containing core and the core/interlayer particles were confirmed by an increase in the particle size as well as an increase in the buried carboxyl percentage.     

Release and formation of surface-localized ionic clusters (SLICs) into phospholipid rafts from colloidal solutions during coalescence

Stimuli-responsive behavior of phospholipids in the presence of ionic surfactants utilized in synthesis of MMA/nBA colloidal particles was investigated. Utilizing 1-myristoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (MHPC) phospholipid, and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (SDOSS) surfactant as dispersing media in H(2)O, narrow unimodal particle size distributions of methyl methacrylate (MMA)/n-butyl acrylate (nBA) copolymers were synthesized. The particle diameters were 154 nm when a SDOSS/MHPC mixture was used and 161 nm using MHPC as the only surface-stabilizing species. When such colloidal dispersions are exposed to 1.7, 3.3, and 6.7 mM aqueous CaCl(2) and KCl electrolyte solutions, surface-localized ionic clusters are generated at the film-air interface that may serve as lipid rafts composed of crystalline phases of MHPC deposited on poly(MMA)/nBA films. These studies illustrate that it is possible to control release and morphology developments of surface phospholipid rafts on artificial surfaces.     

Study on soap‐free P(MMA‐EA‐AA or MAA) latex particles with narrow size distribution

Soap‐free poly(methyl methacrylate‐ethyl acrylate‐acrylic acid or methacrylic acid) [P(MMA‐EA‐AA or MAA)] particles with narrow size distribution were synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl acrylate (EA) and acrylic acid (AA) or methacrylic acid (MAA), and the influences of the mass ratio of core/shell monomers used in the two stages of polymerization ([C/S]_w) and initiator amount on polymerization, particle size and its distribution were investigated by using different monomer addition modes. Results showed that when the batch swelling method was used, the monomer conversion was more than 96.0% and particle size distribution was narrow, and the particle size increased first and then remained almost unchanged at around 600 nm with the [C/S]_w decreased. When the drop‐wise addition method was used, the monomer conversion decreased slightly with [C/S]_w decreased, and large particles more than 750 nm in diameter can be obtained; with the initiator amount increased, the particle size decreased and the monomer conversion had a trend to increase; the particle size distribution was broader and the number of new particles was more in the AA system than in the MAA system; but the AA system was more stable than the MAA system at both low and high initiator amount. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell polyacrylate particles containing hindered amine light stabilizers

A polymerizable hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-yl acrylate (PMPA) was synthesized through transesterification of 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-ol (PMP) with methyl acrylate (MA). Core-shell latex particles containing HALS moieties in the shell phase were prepared by two-stage seeded emulsion polymerization from n-butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and PMPA. The Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) analysis showed that PMPA monomer was successfully prepared and was effectively involved in the polyacrylate particles. The surface composition was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the results indicated that HALS-containing groups could be distributed on the surfaces of the particles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the particles obtained presented a core-shell structure with a particle size around 100 nm. Two glass transition temperatures (T_g), assigned to the core phase and the shell phase of the particles, respectively, were observed for both HALS-containing and HALS-free particles, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the T_g value for the shell phase of HALS-containing particles was 13 °C lower than that of HALS-free particles, indicating the presence of random copolymer between MMA monomer and PMPA comonomer in the shell phase. The thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential thermal gravimetric (DTG) results showed that HALS-containing particles provided an improvement in thermal stability in comparison to HALS-free particles.     

All-acrylic film-forming colloidal polymer/silica nanocomposite particles prepared by aqueous emulsion polymerization

The efficient synthesis of all-acrylic, film-forming, core-shell colloidal nanocomposite particles via in situ aqueous emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with n-butyl acrylate in the presence of a glycerol-functionalized ultrafine silica sol using a cationic azo initiator at 60 °C is reported. It is shown that relatively monodisperse nanocomposite particles can be produced with typical mean weight-average diameters of 140-330 nm and silica contents of up to 39 wt %. The importance of surface functionalization of the silica sol is highlighted, and it is demonstrated that systematic variation of parameters such as the initial silica sol concentration and initiator concentration affect both the mean particle diameter and the silica aggregation efficiency. The nanocomposite morphology comprises a copolymer core and a particulate silica shell, as determined by aqueous electrophoresis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. Moreover, it is shown that films cast from n-butyl acrylate-rich copolymer/silica nanocomposite dispersions are significantly more transparent than those prepared from the poly(styrene-co-n-butyl acrylate)/silica nanocomposite particles reported previously. In the case of the aqueous emulsion homopolymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of ultrafine silica, a particle formation mechanism is proposed to account for the various experimental observations made when periodically sampling such nanocomposite syntheses at intermediate comonomer conversions.     

交联剂对无皂P(MMA-EA-MAA)种子聚合乳胶粒成孔的影响

采用完全无皂种子乳液聚合技术合成了粒径窄分布的P(MMA-EA-MAA)乳胶粒,通过对上述胶乳进行碱处理,制备出了具有空腔结构和多孔结构的聚合物乳胶粒,研究了交联剂的种类和用量对聚合过程、胶粒特性及胶粒结构形态的影响.结果表明,体系中加入交联剂后,单体转化率都有不同程度的提高;随交联剂用量的增加,乳胶粒粒径略有减小,交联剂用量较高时,乳胶粒粒径分布加宽;二乙烯基苯(DVB)的交联效率稍高于双甲基丙烯酸乙二醇酯(EGDMA);不加入交联剂及EGDMA用量低于0.5%时,处理后乳胶粒呈空腔结构,加入DVB及EGDMA用量高于1.0%时,处理后乳胶粒呈多孔结构,并且乳胶粒体积增量随交联剂用量的增加而减小.     

EFFECTS OF ω-ACRYLOYL POLY (ETHYLENE OXIDE) MACROMONOMER ON EMULSIFIER-FREE EMULSI0N COPOLYMERIZATION OF METHYL METHACRYLATE AND n-BUTYL ACRYLATE*

Well-defined nonionic hydrophilic ω-acryloyl poly(ethylene oxide) macro-monomer (PEO-A) has been prepared by living anionic polymerization of ethylene oxidewith diphenyl methyl potassium as the initiator and acryloyl chloride as the reaction termi-nating agent. The polymer was characterized by FTIR and SEC. The emulsifier-free emul-sion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (BA) containingvarious concentrations of PEO-A was studied. In all cases stable emulsion coplymerizationsof MMA and BA were obtained. The stabilizing effect was found to be dependent on themolecular weight and the feed amount of the macromonomer.     

Stepwise controlled immobilization of colloidal crystals formed by polymer-grafted silica particles

Colloidal crystals formed by polymer-grafted silica particles were immobilized by a stepwise procedure consisting of gelation by radical copolymerization followed by solidification by ring-opening radical polymerization. In the first step, the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-grafted silica colloidal crystal suspension was incorporated into the gel without altering the crystal structure by copolymerization of cross-linker, 1,2-dimethylacryloyloxyethane (DME) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). In the second step, ring-opening radical polymerization was performed after substituting the solvent with vinylidene-1,3-dioxolane. By this two-step procedure, the silica particle array of colloidal crystals was immobilized and made into durable material.     

离子型共聚单体参与下的全氟丙烯酸酯无皂乳液共聚

离子型共聚单体参与下的全氟丙烯酸酯无皂乳液共聚;全氟烷基丙烯酸酯;无皂乳液;离子型共聚单体     

The generation of void morphology inside soap-free P(MMA-EA-MAA) particles prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization

Monodisperse soap-free P(MMA-EA-MAA) latex particles were synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl acrylate (EA) and methacrylic acid (MAA), and the particles with void morphology were obtained after undergoing alkali post-treatment. Effects of treatment conditions on particle morphology were investigated. Results showed that the void particles can be obtained under the conditions of the temperature >60 degrees C, initial pH >10.0, treatment time >20 min and 2-butanone amount >2.0 ml. The particle volume and the void size increased to the maximum and then decreased with the increases of initial pH and the treatment time, and these two values increased monotonously with the treatment temperature or 2-butanone amount increased. When the treatment temperature was elevated to 90 degrees C, the treatment time was longer than 180 min, or the 2-butanone amount was more than 8.0 ml, the relatively small voids inside most of the particles combined together to form a large one. The void structure disappeared completely as the initial pH was higher than 12.0. The generation mechanism of the void morphology was discussed.     

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 .     

Studies on the Preparation of Stable and High Solid Content Emulsifier-Free Poly(MMA/BA/HEA) Latex with the Addition of AMPS and Characterization of the Obtained Copolymers

The 2-acrylamido -2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) was used as a reactive comonomer for the methyl methacrylate (MMA), n-butyl acrylate (BA) and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization system to obtain latices of stable and high-solid content (50 wt%).The polymerization and storage process is very stable, and the emulsion could store at room temperature for more than six months with the addition of AMPS. Properties of the latices, such as stability, flow behavior, particles diameter and morphology were studied. In addition, physical properties of the obtained copolymers, such as water resistance, glass transition temperature (T_g) were also investigated. The final size of the latex particles is 200～300 nm in diameter. Compared with the copolymers that were prepared by surfactant emulsion polymerization water resistance is greatly improved.     

丙烯酸酯纳米乳液的制备与表征

将甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯(HEMA)与甲基丙烯酸(MAA)或丙烯酸(AA)用作甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)／丙烯酸丁酯(BA)乳液聚合体系的反应性助乳化剂，采用一种改进的微乳液聚合方法，合成了高单体／乳化剂比例(大于40：1)的聚丙烯酸酯纳米乳液．讨论了引发剂、乳化剂、助乳化别对乳胶粒大小和胶膜吸水率的影响，并对乳液的流体力学行为，共聚物的拉伸行为及耐水性等进行了研究．     

A New Kind of Void Soap-free P（MMA-EA-MAA） Latex Particles

Soap-flee P(MMA-EA-MAA) particles with narrow size distribution were synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl acrylate (EA) and methacrylic acid (MAA), and large voids inside the particles were generated by alkali posttreatment in the presence of 2-butanone. Results indicated that the size of void and theparticle volume were related with the amount of 2-butanone. The generation mechanism of voids was proposed.     

功能单体α-烯烃磺酸钠用于无皂乳液共聚合

用工业原料α-烯烃磺酸钠(AOS)作为功能单体与甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)和丙烯酸丁酯(BA)进行了乳液共聚合,通过测定AOS与MAA的竞聚率,确定了适宜的聚合方式为连续加料法.使用5%AOS制备了高固含量(>60%)的胶乳,并与用十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)作乳化剂时该体系的乳液共聚合进行了比较.AOS是影响乳液稳定性和胶粒大小的主要因素,当AOS含量为单体总质量的1%时可以得到固含量大于40%粒径小于100 nm的乳液;当AOS含量为5%时可以得到固含量大于60%的乳液.两种情况下胶粒粒径分散性均较窄,明显优于同样条件下用SDS制备的胶乳.使用1%AOS制得的胶乳静置1年后粒径及其分布基本保持不变.     

DESIGN AND CONTROL OF SOAP-FREE HYDROPHILIC-HYDROPHOBIC CORE-SHELL LATEX PARTICLES WITH HIGH CARBOXYL CONTENT IN THE CORE OF THE PARTICLES

Soap-free hydrophilic-hydrophobic core-shell latex particles with high carboxyl content in the core of the particles were synthesized via the seeded emulsion polymerization using methyl methacrylate(MMA),butyl acrylate(BA), methacrylic acid(MAA),styrene(St)and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate(EGDMA)as monomers,and the influences of MMA content used in the core preparation on polymerization,particle size and morphology were investigated by transmission electron microscopy,dynamic light scattering and conductometric titration.The results showed that the seeded emulsion polymerization could be carried out smoothly using "starved monomer feeding process" when MAA content in the core preparation was equal to or less than 24 wt%,and the encapsulating efficiency of the hydrophilic P(MMA-BA-MAAEGDMA) core with the hydrophobic PSt shell decreased with the increase in MAA content.When an interlayer of P(MMAMAA -St)with moderate polarity was inserted between the P(MMA-BA-MAA-EGDMA)core and the PSt shell,well designed soap-free hydrophilic-hydrophobic core-shell latex particles with 24 wt%MAA content in the core preparation were obtained.