Mechanism of formation of monodisperse polystyrene hollow particles prepared by membrane emulsification technique. Effect of hexadecane amount on the formation of hollow particles

In a previous study, it was found that monodisperse polystyrene (PSt) hollow particles can be prepared under special conditions by combining a Shirasu Porous Glass (SPG) emulsification technique and subsequent suspension polymerization process. The dispersed phase mainly containing St, hexadecane (HD), and initiator, was pressed through the uniform pores of a SPG membrane into the continuous phase to form uniform droplets. Then, the droplets were polymerized at 70°C. It was proposed that rapid phase separation between PSt and HD was a main reason responsible for the formation of hollow particle. Rapid phase separation confined the HD inside the droplets, it belonged to a non-equilibrium morphology. In this study, HD/St ratio was increased to a high value to confirm the above proposition by promoting rapid phase separation further between HD and PSt, to prevent monomer diffusion into aqueous phase, and to obtain hollow particle with a large hole.     

A Comparison of Membrane Emulsification Obtained Using SPG (Shirasu Porous Glass) and PTFE [Poly(Tetrafluoroethylene)] Membranes

SPG (Shirasu porous glass) membrane emulsification used to prepare uniform polymeric microspheres is briefly reviewed, and the performance of a hydrophilically treated PTFE [poly(tetrafluoroethylerie)] membrane is described and compared with that of the SPG membrane. A mixture of styrene. divinyl benzene and hexadecane (HD) was extruded through the membranes and dispersed in an aqueous phase containing polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as mixed stabilizers. A hvdrophilically treated PTFE membrane was used with a stainless steel mesh support so that the membrane would not expand to affect the pore size during the emulsification. The nominal pore size of the PTFE membrane was replaced with the calculated one using a theoretical expression derived from the force balance between the external pressure and the interfacial tension between oil and water phases. The emulsion droplets prepared with the PTFE membrane revealed a broader size distribution than those obtained with the SPG membrane, and the rate of emulsificaton was nearly same for both membranes. Droplet size control was readily possible. The performance was significantly affected by the adsorption behavior of the stabilizers on the membrane surfaces. The contact angle profile of oil droplets on the PTFE membrane implied that the hydrophilically treated PTFE membrane is still hydrophobic compared to the SPG membrane. This tendency was reflected by the dependence of the average droplet diameter (and coefficient of variation, CV) on the concentration and composition of mixed stabilizers.     

Synthesis and characterization of crosslinked uniform polymeric microspheres containing a polyimide prepolymer by a new emulsification process

A highly crosslinked poly(styrene–divinyl benzene–trimethyolpropane trimethacrylate) microsphere containing a polyimide prepolymer (PIP) was prepared by a new emulsification method, Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification, and a subsequent radical suspension polymerization. That is, a mixture of styrene, divinyl benzene, trimethyol propane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA), and PIP containing an initiator was permeated through the uniform pores of the SPG membrane into a continuous phase containing a stabilizer to form uniform droplets. Then, the suspension polymerization was carried out at 65 °C for 24 h. The trifunctional crosslinker TMPTMA was added to enhance the destructive strength of the microsphere, and PIP was incorporated into the microsphere to provide an adhesion force by a known self‐curing reaction at 220 °C. The effects of the feed amounts of TMPTMA and PIP on the monomer conversion, size distribution, and destructive strength of the microsphere were investigated. The monomer conversion increased with an increase in TMPTMA. The particle size distribution became narrower as the TMPTMA feed amount increased, but it became broader with an increase in PIP. The destructive strength increased with increases in TMPTMA and PIP. After a heat treatment at 220 °C, the destructive strength decreased because of the heat degradation of the polymer. The addition of TMPTMA suppressed the heat degradation, and PIP could undergo self‐curing at 220 °C. The obtained highly crosslinked uniform microsphere containing PIP has potential applications in liquid‐crystal displays. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2588–2598, 2003     

Particle structure of suspension poly(vinyl chloride) and its origin in the polymerization process

The initial stage of the suspension polymerization of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is characterized by the formation of colloidally stable micron-sized grains of PVC inside the polymerizing ca. 150 μm vinyl chloride droplets. The fate of these micron-sized PVC grains depends upon the agitation conditions. If no agitation is employed, they serve as growth centers for further polymerization to give a final particle possessing a uniform internal bead morphology. In agitated systems, these grains coagulate early in the conversion to give a more irregular structure in the interior of the PVC particle. The formation of these stable growth centers appears to be unique to PVC. The polymerization of acrylonitrile, also insoluble in its monomer, is characterized by rapid agglomeration of the precipitated polymer throughout the polymerization. In PVC, the colloidal stability of the polymerizing grains is demonstrated to be electrical in nature. A pericellular membrane or skin formed by polymerization in both the water and vinyl phase completely surrounds the polymerizing droplet after about (1–2)% conversion. This skin is responsible for the charge retention of the PVC grains inside the polymerizing monomer droplets.     

Preparation of polymeric nanocapsules by radiation induced miniemulsion polymerization

In this research, polystyrene (PSt) nanocapsules with liquid cores were prepared by ⁶⁰Co γ-ray radiation induced miniemulsion polymerization, in which N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP) was used as the polar monomer. The characterization of polymer was carried out by ¹H NMR. It was verified that during polymerization, graft copolymerization between poly (pyrrolidone) (PVP) and PSt had taken place instead of random copolymerization. The interfacial tension between polymer and water was reduced because of the grafting reaction that had occurred, which was helpful to form nanocapsules. The influence of the ratio of St to NVP, the type and amount of the surfactant and the monomer/dodocane ratio on the particle morphology was studied by TEM. Finally, the releasing process of the synthesized nanoparticles was monitored by UV-vis measurement.     

Control of various morphological changes of poly(meth)acrylate microspheres and their swelling degrees by SPG emulsification

Crosslinked poly(meth)acrylate polymers with a variety of morphologies were synthesized with two steps. In the first step, a microporous glass membrane (Shirasu Porous Glass, SPG) was employed to prepare uniform emulsion droplets by applying an adequate pressure to the monomer phase, which was composed of the ADVN initiator, solvent of toluene or heptane or their mixture, and a mixture of (meth)acrylate monomers. The droplets were formed continuously through the membrane and suspended in the aqueous solution, which contained a PVA‐127 suspending agent, SLS emulsifier, and NaNO₂ inhibitor to suppress the nucleation of secondary particles. SPG pore sizes of 0.90, 5.25, and 9.25 μm were used. Then the emulsion droplets were polymerized at 343 K with a rotation rate 160 rpm for 24 h. The (meth)acrylate monomers 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (2‐EHA), 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate (2‐EHMA), cyclohexyl acrylate (CHA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), lauryl acrylate (LA), and lauryl methacrylate (LMA) were used in this research. The influences of the ratios of the monomer and crosslinking agent EGDMA, the amount of diluents, the monomer type on the polymer particle morphology, the swelling degree, and the polymer particle size were investigated. It was found that an increase in the concentrations of EGDMA and heptane resulted in higher coarse porous spheres and smaller polymer particle sizes. A coefficient with a variation close to 10%, or a standard deviation of about 4, was obtained. The capacity of these spheres as solvent absorption materials was examined. The highest swelling degrees of heptane and toluene were obtained when LA was employed as the monomer with 30% (by weight) of EGDMA and 70% (by weight) of heptane as an inert solvent. The highest capacity of the solvent absorption was obtained when using a polymer particle size of 4.81 μm, as prepared by SPG pore size 0.9 μm. The polymer particles were able to absorb aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and a mix of aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, such as toluene and heptane. The capacity of solvent absorption for the aromatic hydrocarbon solvents was higher than for the aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents. In addition, the particles did not rupture or collapse after absorption in solvents. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4038–4056, 2000     

Preparation of organic/inorganic hybrid and hollow particles by catalytic deposition of silica onto core/shell heterocoagulates modified with poly[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate

The organic/inorganic hybrid particles PSt/P(St-CPEM)(θ)-g-PDMAEMA/SiO(2) were prepared by catalytic hydrolysis and subsequent polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane in the poly[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) layers grafted on the PSt/P(St-CPEM)(θ) core/shell heterocoagulates. The micron-sized PSt core and the submicron-sized P(St-CPEM) shell particles bearing ATRP initiating groups were synthesized by dispersion polymerization of styrene (St) and emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of St with 2-chloropropionyloxyethyl methacrylate (CPEM), respectively. The raspberry-shaped PSt/P(St-CPEM)(θ) heterocoagulates with a controlled surface coverage (θ=0.51, 0.81) were prepared by hydrophobic coagulation between the core and the shell particles in an aqueous NaCl solution near the T(g) of P(St-CPEM). Surface modification of heterocoagulates was carried out by ATRP of DMAEMA from the shell particles adsorbed on the core particles. Silica deposition was performed by simply adding tetraethoxysilane to a water/methanol dispersion of PSt/P(St-CPEM)(θ)-g-PDMAEMA. The SEM and TGA revealed that the resulting PSt/P(St-CPEM)(θ)-g-PDMAEMA/SiO(2) composites maintain a raspberry-like morphology after deposition of silica onto the PDMAEMA layer grafted on heterocoagulates. The micron-sized, raspberry-shaped or the submicron-sized, hole-structured silica hollow particles were obtained selectively by thermal decomposition of the PSt/P(St-CPEM)(θ)-g-PDMAEMA/SiO(2). The oriented particle array was fabricated by dropping anisotropically perforated silica particles onto a glass substrate settled at the bottom of a bottle filled with chloroform.     

The preparation of sterically stabilized polymer dispersions

The emulsion polymerizations of styrene (St) and butyl acrylate (BA) stabilized by nonionic polyoxyethylene type emulsifiers did not show the long stationary rate interval. This was discussed in terms of two opposing effects: 1) the decreased monomer concentration at the reaction loci due to the depletion of monomer droplets or depressed monomer droplet degradation and 2) the increased number of polymer particles with increasing conversion. The continuous particle nucleation is attributed to the continuous release of emulsifier from the emulsifier saturated monomer droplets and/or the presence of monomer swollen micelles (microdroplets). The limited particle flocculation operative at lower emulsifier concentrations increases the nonstationary-state polymerization. The particle agglomeration is accompanied by the increased reaction order x (N_p vs. [E]^x) above 0.6. The increased uniformity of monomer emulsion stabilized by Tween 20 by homogenization of monomer emulsion increased the final conversion and the polymerization rate as well. The polymerization rate vs. conversion curve of the homogenized emulsion characterized with broader stationary rate interval reminds the four rate intervals system typical for miniemulsion. The accumulation of polymer and nonionic emulsifier within the monomer phase preserves the monomer droplets up to high conversion. The decreased monomer droplet degradation rises the monomer-starved condition or the depressed transport of both monomer and emulsifier to the reaction loci.     

Preparation of polyurethane dispersions by miniemulsion polymerization

With a two‐step miniemulsion polymerization, hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) dispersions were prepared with a cosurfactant, the costabilizer hexadecane (HD) in the oil phase, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the water phase. The first step involved the formation of NCO‐terminated prepolymers between isophorone diisocyanate and poly(propylene glycol) oligomer in toluene. Next, PU dispersions were produced by a miniemulsion method in which an oil phase containing NCO‐terminated prepolymers, HD, the chain extender 1,4‐butanediol (BD), the crosslinking agent trimethylol propane (TMP), and the catalyst dibutyltin dilaurate was dispersed in the water phase containing SDS. The influence of experimental parameters, such as the ultrasonication time, concentrations of SDS and HD, and TMP/BD and NCO/OH equivalent ratios, on the sizes of the miniemulsion droplets and polymer particles, as well as the molecular weights and thermal properties of the PU polymer, was examined. The chemical structure of the produced PU polymer was identified with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The molecular weight distribution and average particle size were measured through gel permeation chromatography and dynamic light scattering, respectively. The thermal stability of the PU polymer was characterized with thermogravimetric analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4870–4881, 2005     

Preparation of insulin-loaded PLA/PLGA microcapsules by a novel membrane emulsification method and its release in vitro

Uniform-sized biodegradable PLA/PLGA microcapsules loading recombinant human insulin (rhI) were successfully prepared by combining a Shirasu Porous Glass (SPG) membrane emulsification technique and a double emulsion-evaporation method. An aqueous phase containing rhI was used as the inner water phase (w1), and PLA/PLGA and Arlacel 83 were dissolved in a mixture solvent of dichloromethane (DCM) and toluene, which was used as the oil phase (o). These two solutions were emulsified by a homogenizer to form a w1/o primary emulsion. The primary emulsion was permeated through the uniform pores of a SPG membrane into an outer water phase by the pressure of nitrogen gas to form the uniform w1/o/w2 droplets. The solid polymer microcapsules were obtained by simply evaporating solvent from droplets. Various factors of the preparation process influencing the drug encapsulation efficiency and the drug cumulative release were investigated systemically. The results indicated that the drug encapsulation efficiency and the cumulative release were affected by the PLA/PLGA ratio, NaCl concentration in outer water phase, the inner water phase volume, rhI-loading amount, pH-value in outer water phase and the size of microcapsules. By optimizing the preparation process, the drug encapsulation efficiency was high up to 91.82%. The unique advantage of preparing drug-loaded microcapsules by membrane emulsification technique is that the size of microcapsules can be controlled accurately, and thus the drug cumulative release profile can be adjusted just by changing the size of microcapsules. Moreover, much higher encapsulation efficiency can be obtained when compared with the conventional mechanical stirring method.     

甲基丙烯酸甲酯/苯乙烯在硅片表面的RAFT接枝聚合

将3-(2-二硫代苯甲酸基丙酰氧基)丙基二甲基甲氧基硅烷化学键合于硅片表面.以甲基丙烯酸甲酯和苯乙烯为单体,在硅片表面进行可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)接枝聚合.X-射线光电子能谱仪证实聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)、聚苯乙烯(PS)、苯乙烯/甲基丙烯酸甲酯的共聚物(poly(MMA-co-St))都接枝到硅片表面.但3个体系表现出不同的性质,甲基丙烯酸甲酯的RAFT聚合可控性差,分子量比设计分子量大得多,分子量分布指数宽,接枝密度仅为0·03chains/nm2;苯乙烯均聚合的活性/可控性好、分子量分布窄,接枝密度提高到0·21chains/nm2;共聚合体系综合了两个均聚体系的优点,分子量分布较窄,接枝密度最高为0·31chains/nm2,聚合物膜厚随转化率、数均分子量基本呈线性增长.     

Sterically stabilized emulsion polymerization of styrene: Pseudo‐semicontinuous approach

The sterically stabilized emulsion polymerization of styrene initiated by a water‐soluble initiator at different temperatures has been investigated. The rate of polymerization (R_p) versus conversion curve shows the two non‐stationary‐rate intervals typical for the polymerization proceeding under non‐stationary‐state conditions. The shape of the R_p versus conversion curve results from two opposite effects—the increased number of particles and the decreased monomer concentration at reaction loci as the polymerization advances. At elevated temperatures the monomer emulsion equilibrates to a two‐phase or three‐phase system. The upper phase is transparent (monomer), and the lower one is blue colored, typical for microemulsion. After stirring such a multiphase system and initiation of polymerization, the initial coarse polymer emulsion was formed. The average size of monomer/polymer particles strongly decreased up to about 40% conversion and then leveled off. The initial large particles are assumed to be highly monomer‐swollen particles formed by the heteroagglomeration of unstable polymer particles and monomer droplets. The size of the “highly monomer” swollen particles continuously decreases with conversion, and they merge with the growing particles at about 40–50% conversion. The monomer droplets and/or large highly monomer‐swollen polymer particles also serve as a reservoir of monomer and emulsifier. The continuous release of nonionic (hydrophobic) emulsifier from the monomer phase increases the colloidal stability of primary particles and the number of polymer particles, that is, the particle nucleation is shifted to the higher conversion region. Variations of the square and cube of the mean droplet radius with aging time indicate that neither the coalescence nor the Ostwald ripening is the main driving force for the droplet instability. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 804–820, 2003     

Preparation of monodisperse crosslinked polymelamine microcapsules by phase separation method

Monodisperse polymelamine microcapsules were prepared by phase separation method. Control of microcapsule diameter was investigated using the uniform-sized oil-in-water emulsion droplets as the capsule core. The monodisperse emulsion droplets were prepared using the Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification technique. The effects of the diameter of the oil droplet and concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), which is a typical emulsifier in SPG membrane emulsification, on microencapsulation were investigated. The microcapsules were aggregated when oil droplets with small size were microencapsulated at high SDS concentration. To reduce the SDS concentration, the creamed emulsion was used. The monodisperse polymelamine microcapsules were successfully prepared by using the creamed emulsion. The microcapsule diameter was almost similar to the diameter of the encapsulated oil droplet. The coefficient of variation values was about 10% for all microcapsules prepared in this study. Control of microcapsule diameter was achieved in the range of 5–60 μm.     

A review of: “Nineteenth Century Attitudes: Men of Science (Chemists and Chemistry Series,Vol. 13)”. Sydney Ross. Kluwer Academic Publishers; Dordrecht, 1991. pp. xi+235. $69.00.

Abstract

The potential of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes as water‐in‐oil (W/O) emulsification devices was investigated to obtain uniformly sized droplets and to convert them into microcapsules and polymer particles via subsequent treatments. Uniform W/O emulsion droplets have not been achieved using glass membranes unless the membrane was rendered hydrophobic by treatment with silanes. If a PTFE membrane is capable of providing uniform droplets for a W/O emulsion, a coordinated membrane emulsification system can be established since glass membranes have been so successful for O/W (oil‐in‐water) emulsification. In order to examine the feasibility of PTFE membrane emulsification, O/W and W/O emulsion characteristics prepared using PTFE membranes were compared with those prepared by the conventional SPG (Shirasu porous glass) membrane emulsification method. A 3 wt.% sodium chloride solution was dispersed in kerosene using a low HLB surfactant. Effects of the membrane pore size, permeation pressure, and the type of emulsifiers and concentration on the droplet size and on the size distribution (CV, coefficient of variation) were investigated. The CV of the droplets was fairly low, and the average droplet size was correlated with the critical permeation pressure of the dispersed phase, revealing that the PTFE membrane could be used as a one‐pass membrane emulsification device. Low CV values were maintained with a Span 85 (HLB = 1.8) concentration, 0.2–5.0 wt.% and a range of HLB from 1.8–5.0. For a brief demonstration of practical applications, nylon‐6,10 microcapsules prepared by interfacial polycondensation and poly(acrylamide) hydrogels from inverse suspension polymerization are illustrated.     

Substituted propenyl end groups as reactive intermediates in radical polymerization

The addition of propagating radicals of methyl acrylate (MA) and styrene (St) to CH₂?C(CO₂CH₃)CH₂? and CH₂?C(C₆H₅)CH₂? ω‐end groups of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PSt) was investigated. The end groups were as reactive as MA and St toward the poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) and PSt radicals, respectively. The adduct radical derived from the two types of PMMA end groups and PMA radicals underwent β fragmentation exclusively to yield PMMA radicals and end groups bound to PMA chains. The addition of PSt radicals to PMMA with CH₂?C(CO₂Me)CH₂? end groups resulted in adduct radicals that underwent β fragmentation and addition to St or coupling with PSt radicals. Adduct radicals formed by the addition of PMA radicals to both types of end groups of PSt exclusively formed C? C bond by coupling with PMA radicals to form branched structures or by addition to MA monomer to give a copolymer. The fate of the adduct radicals was highly dependent on the type of polymer chain and the substituent bound to the end group. Steric congestion of the adduct radical arising from the α‐methyl group of the PMMA chain was considered to be crucial for fragmentation to expel the PMMA radical. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 645–654, 2003     

One-step synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid asymmetric dimer particles via miniemulsion polymerization and functionalization with silver

Organic-inorganic polystyrene (PSt)-silica (SiO2) hybrid asymmetric particles were prepared in one step by a miniemulsion polymerization technique. The organic and inorganic reagents were confined in miniemulsion microreactor droplets. After the formation of PSt and SiO2, internal phase separation inside the droplets was accelerated owing to the hydrophobicity of PSt and the hydrophilicity of SiO2. Therefore, PSt-SiO2 hybrid asymmetric particles could be synthesized in one step. Between each pair of asymmetric particles, silane couplers act as bridges connecting the PSt and SiO2 particles. The size of PSt particles in these asymmetric particles was easily tuned either by changing the weight ratio of St/TEOS or by varying the sonication power during the miniemulsion preparation. After functionalization of the as-prepared asymmetric dimers by surface decoration with Ag particles, enhanced surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties were observed due to electromagnetic enhancement of the added Ag colloids.     

Particle nucleation and monomer partitioning in styrene O/W microemulsion polymerization

Particle nucleation in the polymerization of styrene microemulsions was found to take place throughout the polymerization as indicated by measurements of the particle number as a function of conversion. A mechanism based on the nucleation in the microemulsion droplets was proposed to explain the experimental findings although homogeneous nucleation and coagulation during polymerization were not completely ruled out. A thermodynamic model was developed to simulate the partitioning of monomer in the different phases during polymerization. The model predicts that the oil cores of the microemulsion droplets were depleted early in the polymerization (4% conversion). Due to the high monomer/polymer swelling ratio of the polymer particles, most of the monomer resides in the polymer particles during polymerization. The termination of chain growth inside the polymer particles was attributed to the chain transfer reaction to monomer. The low n? (less than 0.5) of the microemulsion system was attributed to the fast exit of monomeric radicals.     

Preparation of uniform-sized pH-sensitive quaternized chitosan microsphere by combining membrane emulsification technique and thermal-gelation method

In this study, uniform-sized pH-sensitive quaternized chitosan microsphere was prepared by combining Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification technique and a novel thermal-gelation method. In this preparation process, the mixture of quaternized chitosan solution and alpha-beta-glycerophosphate (alpha-beta-GP) was used as water phase and dispersed in oil phase to form uniform W/O emulsion by SPG membrane emulsification technique. The droplets solidified into microspheres at 37 degrees C by thermal-gelation method. The whole process was simple and mild. The influence of process conditions on the property of prepared microspheres was investigated and the optimized preparation condition was obtained. As a result, the coefficient of variation (C.V.) of obtained microspheres diameters was below 15%. The obtained microsphere had porous structure and showed apparent pH-sensitivity. It dissolved rapidly in acid solution (pH 5) and kept stable in neutral solution (pH 7.4). The pH-sensitivity of microspheres also affected its drug release behavior. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model drug was encapsulated in microspheres, and it was released rapidly in acid solution and slowly in neutral medium. The novel quaternized chitosan microspheres with pH-sensitivity can be used as drug delivery system in the biomedical field, such as tumor-targeted drug carrier.     

水溶性聚合物和两亲聚合物 16.聚苯乙烯/聚丙烯酰胺嵌段聚合物的合成和表征

采用聚偶氮酯引发剂,合成了聚苯乙烯/聚丙烯酰胺嵌段聚合物(PSt/PAM)。考察了含偶氮基聚苯乙烯预聚物(pre-PSt)在1,4-二氧六环中引发AM的聚合反应行为,讨论了影响第二单体转化率和聚苯乙烯均聚物含量的因素。用元素分析、溶解性、红外光谱、DSC、TG和裂解色谱表征了PSt/PAM嵌段聚合物。     

Vinyl polymerization. 410. Polymerizations of vinyl monomers initiated by poly(styrene-co-sodium acrylate) or poly(methyl methacrylate-co-sodium methacrylate). A verification of the concept of hard and soft hydrophobic areas and monomers

It was found that the copolymers of sodium acrylate (AA-Na) with styrene (St) and of sodium methacrylate (MAA-Na) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) could polymerize vinyl monomers in an aqueous phase without the usual initiator. Interestingly, there was a definite composition of the copolymer for the polymerization of a given monomer; for example, when poly(St-co-AA-Na) was used, St, MMA, vinyl acetate, ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, and acrylonitrile were polymerized by the copolymer having mole ratios of AA-Na:St of 0.61:0.29, 0.47:0.53, 0.38:0.62, 0.30:0.70, 0.24:0.76, and 1.00:0, respectively. The copolymers of various compositions can form hydrophobic areas (HAs) in the water phase. As has been repeatedly reported, the polymerization proceeds in the HAs, and the following new hypothesis was recently proposed that the hard (the less hydrophilic) HA prefers to incorporate the hard monomer and the soft (the less hydrophobic or the more hydrophilic) HA prefers to incorporate the soft monomer. The results mentioned above support this hypothesis.