Preparation of micrometer-sized poly(methyl methacrylate) particles with amphoteric initiator in aqueous media

A previously proposed method based on soap-free emulsion polymerization with an amphoteric initiator for producing micrometer-sized polystyrene particles was extended to application with methyl methacrylate (MMA). The aggregation and dispersion stability of polymer particles, which have ionizable groups arising from initiator radicals, can be controlled by adjusting the pH of the reaction system accompanied with the addition of ionic monomer. Polymerizations were carried out with 2,2'-azobis[N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-methylpropionamidine] tetrahydrate amphoteric initiator, NH(3)/NH(4)Cl pH buffer, and sodium p-styrenesulfonate anionic monomer (NaSS) in ranges of MMA concentration (0.58-2.32 kmol/m(3) H(2)O) and NH(3) concentration (2.5-20 mol/m(3) H(2)O) at fixed concentrations of 5 mol/m(3) H(2)O initiator, 10 mol/m(3) H(2)O NH(4)Cl, and 1 mol/m(3) H(2)O NaSS at 65 degrees C. The addition of NaSS during the polymerization could improve stability in dispersion of particles, which coagulated in the absence of NaSS after the disappearance of monomer drops. An increase in the monomer concentration in the present method could enlarge the particle size without lowering the monodispersity of the particle size distribution. On the other hand, an increase in NH(3) concentration decreased the particle size. The highest monodispersity of particle sizes was obtained at a NH(3) concentration of 5 mol/m(3) H(2)O, which gave an average size of 1.5 microm and a coefficient of variation of particle size distribution of 2.2% that was much smaller than the standard criterion for monodispersity, 10%.     

Soap-free synthesis for producing highly monodisperse, micrometer-sized polystyrene particles up to 6 microm

A soap-free emulsion polymerization method with the use of an amphoteric initiator, currently proposed by the authors for producing highly monodisperse, micrometer-sized polymer particles, was examined in the polymerization of styrene with a 2,2'-azobis [N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-2-methylpropionamidine] hydrate initiator and an NH(4)OH/NH(4)Cl pH buffer. The pH buffer was used to control the electric surface potential of particles to maintain a stable dispersion of particles and to prevent generation of new particles during the polymerization. Addition of monomer to the reaction system during polymerization could enlarge the average size of polymer particles to 5.7 microm with a coefficient of variation of 1.5%, which is much less than the standard criteria of monodispersity, 10%.     

Synthesis of highly monodisperse particles composed of a magnetic core and fluorescent shell

Highly monodisperse particles composed of a magnetic silica core and fluorescent polymer shell were synthesized with a combined technique of heterocoagulation and soap-free emulsion polymerization. Prior to heterocoagulation, monodisperse, submicrometer-sized silica particles were prepared with the Stober method, and magnetic nanoparticles were prepared with a modified Massart method in which a cationic silane coupling agent of N-trimethoxysilylpropyl- N, N, N-trimethylammonium chloride was added just after coprecipitation of Fe (2+) and Fe (3+). The silica particles with negative surface potential were heterocoagulated with the magnetic nanoparticles with positive surface potential. The magnetic silica particles obtained with the heterocoagulation were treated with sodium silicate to modify their surfaces with silica. In the formation of a fluorescent polymer shell onto the silica-coated magnetic silica cores, an amphoteric initiator of 2,2'-azobis[ N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-2-methylpropionamidine] (VA-057) was used to control the colloidal stability of the magnetic cores during the polymer coating. The polymerization of St in the presence of a hydrophobic fluorophore of pyrene could coat the cores with fluorescent polymer shells, resulting in monodisperse particles with a magnetic silica core and fluorescent polymer shell. Measurements of zeta potential for the composite particles in different pH values indicated that the composite particles had an amphoteric property originating from VA-057 initiator.     

Preparation of micrometer-sized polymer particles with control of initiator dissociation during soap-free emulsion polymerization

A previously proposed method of soap-free emulsion polymerization employing an amphoteric initiator, 2,2'-azobis [N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-methylpropionamidine] tetrahydrate (VA-057), was extended to synthesize micrometer-sized polystyrene particles with low polydispersity in an acidic region of pH from 3.3 to 4.6. A buffer system of CH3COOH/CH3COONa was used for the adjustment of pH, which was aimed at effective promotion of particle coagulation in early stage of the polymerization. In these experiments, CH3COOH concentration was varied from 20 to 360 mM at a CH3COONa concentration of 10 mM. Polymer particles with an average size of 1.8 microm and low polydispersity were obtained at the CH3COOH concentration of 40 mM for the concentrations of 1.1 M styrene monomer and 10 mM initiator. To more precisely control dispersion stability of particles, experiments in which pH was stepwisely changed during the polymerization were also carried out. This polymerization method could enhance the average size of particles to 2.2 microm while retaining the monodispersity of particles. Furthermore, combination of pH stepwise change and monomer addition during the polymerization could produce particles with an average size of 3.0 microm and low polydispersity.     

Preparation of highly monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) particles incorporating fluorescent rhodamine 6G for colloidal crystals

Soap-free emulsion polymerization was extended to preparation of monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles incorporating rhodamine 6G (R6G) fluorescent molecules. The polymerization was conducted in the presence of an anionic monomer, p-styrenesulfonate (NaSS), which improved dispersion stability of the polymer particles. NaSS concentrations was ranged up to 2 mol/m3 H2O in the polymerization at 0.5 kmol/m3 H2O methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer and 5 mol/m3 H2O potassium persulfate (KPS) initiator for R6G concentrations from 0.1 to 10 mol/m3-polymer. At R6G concentrations lower than 1.0 mol/m3-polymer, PMMA particles were highly monodisperse and incorporated most R6G molecules. The average sizes of PMMA particles were in a rage of 160-300 nm, and decreased with the concentration of NaSS. The high monodispersity of the particles enabled the fabrication of colloidal crystals of the particles with a vertical deposition method.     

Synthesis of monodisperse,magnetic latex particles with polystyrene core

A novel method for producing monodisperse, submicron-sized magnetic latex particles is described. The method provides coating of polymer particles with surface-modified magnetic particles during soap-free polymerization. Experiments were performed with styrene monomer, potassium persulfate initiator, Fe ₃O ₄ magnetic particles, and silane-coupling reagents of methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) and methacryloxypropyldimethoxysilane (MPDMS). The morphology of the magnetic particles depended on the silane-coupling reagents. Use of the tri-functional coupling reagent MPTMS produced particles having a disk-like or concave-like shape, whereas use of the di-functional coupling reagent MPDMS produced spherical particles that had a coefficient of variation of 4.4%, which was much smaller than the standard criteria of monodispersity, 10%.     

Synthesis of nearly micron-sized particles by soap-free emulsion polymerization of methacrylic monomer using an oil-soluble initiator

Methacrylic monomer was used in soap-free emulsion polymerization in order to obtain a stable dispersion containing particles of the polymerized monomer. 2,2′-Azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) (AIBN) or 1,1′-azobis(1-acetoxy-1-phenylethane) (OT_AZO-15) were used as the radical initiator. Although particles with a size of about 1.0 μm were obtained when using methyl methacrylate as the monomer and AIBN as the initiator, the particles did not exhibit good dispersion stability. When OT_AZO-15, which has phenyl rings, was used as the initiator, the monomer phase solidified instead of forming particles in the aqueous phase. Benzyl methacrylate (BMA) monomer, which contains a phenyl ring, was polymerized using AIBN. Negatively charged particles with a size of 0.90 μm were formed. These particles exhibited good dispersion stability probably because of the pi electrons of the phenyl ring in the BMA monomer. The method in this study allows the synthesis of nearly micron-sized particles without surfactant, organic solvent, and electrolyte.     

Soap-free synthesis of highly monodisperse magnetic polymer particles with amphoteric initiator

A method applying soap-free emulsion polymerization with an amphoteric initiator, 2,2′-azobis[N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-2-methyl-propionamidine], is proposed for synthesis of highly monodisperse particles composed of magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄/γ–Fe₂O₃) and polystyrene. The magnetic nanoparticles were pretreated by surface modification for introducing double bonds onto the particles. In the polymerization, magnetic nanoparticles were continuously supplied to the system for a certain period after the initiation of polymerization at various pH. Dissociation degrees of ionizable groups in the initiator molecules were controlled through pH by changing NH₃ concentrations at a constant NH₄Cl concentration. Selection of suitable pH in the polymerization could produce polymer particles that perfectly incorporated the supplied magnetic nanoparticles. The magnetic polymer particles had a coefficient of variation of size distribution as low as 4.3% with an average diameter of 515 nm and a saturation magnetization of 7.3 emu/g-sample. Electrophoresis measurements indicated that the magnetic polymer particles had an isoelectric point of pH 4.1.     

Study on controlling particle growth in seeded emulsion polymerization with regulated coagulation based on the electrostatic interactions

30wt% solid content, anionic seed copolymer latex P(methyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) was prepared by conventional emulsion polymerization, and then the seeded emulsion polymerization was carried out accompanied with the electrostatic coagulation during the reaction in the presence of counter-ion species, such as cationic monomer and initiator. In this article, effects of cationic monomer (dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, DM) content, secondary monomer to seed polymer weight ratio, M/P and amount of emulsifier (polyoxyethylene nonylphenylether with 23 units of ethylene oxide, PEO23) were investigated on the effective particle growth and the stability of final latex. With 10wt% DM in monomer, M/P ratio at 2.0 were recommended. An optimal policy for handling the emulsifier content without the nucleation of secondary particles while achieving the controlled coagulative growth was proposed from the observations of polymer yield and particle size during the polymerization.     

Preparation of sulphonate-containing core/shell latex particles via seeded emulsion copolymerization

<正>In this study,P(St-MAA) seed latex particles were first prepared via soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene(St) and methacrylic acid(MAA),then the seed particles were allowed to swell with St at room temperature,and the P(St-MAA)/P(StNaSS) core/shell latex particles were then synthesized via seeded emulsion copolymerization of St and sodium styrene sulphonate (NaSS) using AIBN as initiator in the presence of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide(BAA,water-soluble crosslinker).Results showed that the polymerization could be carried out smoothly when the ratio of BAA to total monomers was less than 3 mol%,the narrow dispersed P(St-MAA) seed particles with the diameter of 150 nm and the P(St-MAA)/P(St-NaSS) core/shell latexes with the particle size of about 200 nm were synthesized.When the 25/75 mole ratio of NaSS/(St + MAA) and 2 mol%of BAA were used in the seeded emulsion polymerization,the resulted P(St-MAA)/P(St-NaSS) latex product showed a low weight loss after water extraction,and the NaSS unit content in the whole particle and in the shell reached 11.7 mol%and 34.6 mol%,respectively.     

Synthesis of micron-sized polymeric particles in soap-free emulsion polymerization using oil-soluble initiators and electrolytes

Soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene using oil-soluble initiators and electrolytes was investigated to synthesize micron-sized polystyrene particles. It was clear that an oil-soluble initiator, such as AIBN, worked like a water-soluble initiator in soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene to prepare monodispersed particles with negative charges, probably because of the polarization of the electron-attractive functional groups decomposed from the initiators and the pi electron cloud of benzene in a styrene monomer. The addition of an electrolyte enabled secondary particles to effectively promote hetero-coagulation for particle growth by reduction of an electrical double layer and prevention of self-growth. Changing the concentration and type of electrolyte enabled us to control the size up to 12 μm in soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene using AIBN. Conventionally, organic solvents and surfactants have been used to prepare micron-sized polymeric particles, but this method enabled the synthesis of micron-sized polymeric particles in water using electrolytes without surfactants.     

Size control of polystyrene nodules formed on silica particles in soap-free emulsion polymerization with amphoteric initiator

An amphoteric initiator of 2,2′-azobis[N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-2-methylpropionamidine] (VA-057) was applied to fabrication of raspberry-shaped composite particles in soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of silica particles surface-modified with 3-methacryoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. In the polymerizations, pH of the solution was ranged from 7.9 to 9.9 to alter dissociation degree of ionizable groups in the initiator. Raspberry-shaped particles were obtained in a pH range of 8.0 to 9.3 followed by a tendency in which average size of polystyrene (PSt) nodules adsorbed onto the silica particles decreased with pH. This tendency was similar to that of polymer particles formed in conventional soap-free emulsion polymerization in the absence of the silica particles. An increase in silica particle concentration led to a decrease in the final size in PSt nodules. The decrease was caused by the stabilization of polymer particles fixed to the silica surface against polymer particle aggregation in water phase.     

Particle formation under monomer‐starved conditions in the semibatch emulsion polymerization of styrene. I. Experimental

Particle formation and particle growth compete in the course of an emulsion polymerization reaction. Any variation in the rate of particle growth, therefore, will result in an opposite effect on the rate of particle formation. The particle formation in a semibatch emulsion polymerization of styrene under monomer‐starved conditions was studied. The semibatch emulsion polymerization reactions were started by the monomer being fed at a low rate to a reaction vessel containing deionized water, an emulsifier, and an initiator. The number of polymer particles increased with a decreasing monomer feed rate. A much larger number of particles (within 1–2 orders of magnitude) than that generally expected from a conventional batch emulsion polymerization was obtained. The results showed a higher dependence of the number of polymer particles on the emulsifier and initiator concentrations compared with that for a batch emulsion polymerization. The size distribution of the particles was characterized by a positive skewness due to the declining rate of the growth of particles during the nucleation stage. A routine for monomer partitioning among the polymer phase, the aqueous phase, and micelles was developed. The results showed that particle formation most likely occurred under monomer‐starved conditions. A small average radical number was obtained because of the formation of a large number of polymer particles, so the kinetics of the system could be explained by a zero–one system. The particle size distribution of the latexes broadened with time as a result of stochastic broadening associated with zero–one systems. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3940–3952, 2001     

Poly(2-acetoxyethyl methacrylate)/polystyrene latex interpenetrating polymer networks with well-defined phase-separated structure

A series of poly(2-acetoxyethyl methacrylate)/polystyrene(PAEMA/PS) latex interpenetrating polymer networks(LIPNs) were prepared by seeded soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene on the crosslinked PAEMA seed particles using an oil-soluble initiator.These PAEMA/PS LIPNs showed a well-defined phase-separated structure with PS phase dispersing in continuous PAEMA phase.The domain size of PS phase was found to depend on the crosslinking degree of PAEMA seed particles and the amount of second-stage styrene monomer.     

Fluorinated monomer–styrene copolymer latex particles: I. kinetic studies in a soap-free aqueous medium

Soap-free emulsion copolymerization of 2, 2, 2-trifluoroethyl acrylate (3FEA) with styrene was carried out by using potassium persulfate as an initiator, and the effects of the weight fraction of 3FEA in the monomer feed on the kinetics and the particle size were investigated. Monomer conversions were followed by a gravimetric method, revealing that the overall polymerization rate increased exponentially with an increase in the weight fraction of 3FEA. According to dynamic light scattering measurement, the final particle size was found to decrease with an increase in the weight fraction of 3FEA. The number of particles for 3FEA homopolymerization was roughly twice as large as that at the fraction of 0.9, although both fractions had the almost same polymerization rates. These results indicate that soap-free emulsion homopolymerization of 3FEA would proceed not only inside the polymer particles but also in the aqueous phase throughout the polymerization.     

Kinetics and mechanism of emulsion polymerization initiated by oil-soluble initiators. II. Kinetic behavior of styrene emulsion polymerization initiated by 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile

In order to clarify the general kinetic behavior of emulsion polymerization initiated by oilsoluble initiators, the emulsion polymerization of styrene initiated by 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile was as a typical example, investigated thoroughly. The variations of the polymerization rate and the number of polymer particles produced with changes in emulsifier (sodium lauryl sulfate), initiator, and monomer concentrations initially charged and the reaction temperature were determined. It is shown from these experimental results that the kinetic behavior of this emulsion polymerization system is quite similar to that of styrene emulsion polymerization initiated by the water-soluble initiator, potassium persulfate despite the difference in the principal loci of radical production in both systems.     

Polymerization of styrene with ionic comonomer,nonionic comonomer,or both

Nanosized polystyrene latexes with high polymer contents were obtained from an emulsifier-free process by the polymerization of styrene with ionic comonomer, nonionic comonomer, or both. After seeding particles were generated in an initial emulsion system consisting of styrene, water, an ionic comonomer [sodium styrenesulfonate (NaSS)] or nonionic comonomer [2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)], and potassium persulfate, most of the styrene monomer or a mixture of styrene and HEMA was added dropwise to the polymerizing emulsion over 6 h. Stable latexes with high polystyrene contents (≤25%) were obtained. The latex particle weight-average diameters were largely reduced (41 nm) by the continuous addition of monomer(s) compared with those (117 nm) obtained by the one-pot polymerization method. Latex particles varied from about 30 to 250 nm in diameters, whereas their molar masses were within 10⁴ to 10⁵ g/mol. The effect of the comonomer concentration on the number of polystyrene particles per milliliter of latex and the weight-average molar masses of the copolymers during the polymerization are discussed. The surface compositions of the latex particles were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which indicated that the surface of the latex particles was significantly enriched in NaSS, HEMA, or both. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1634–1645, 2001     

Emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile. Part II. Mechanism of emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile

The mechanism of emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile has been studied by measuring by dilatometry and electron microscopy the adsorption of monomer into polymer particles and polymerization characteristics such as rate, degree of polymerization, the growth of the particle during polymerization, and the degree of dispersion. In the emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile, new particles are formed during polymerization at a rate which is proportional to the rate of polymerization and the ratio of unreacted monomer. The total amount of monomer adsorbed on or in the polymer particles is rather small, but the concentration on or in the polymer particles is sufficiently high and proportional to the monomer concentration in aqueous phase. The polymerization proceeds concurrently on or in the polymer particles and in aqueous phase, but the three loci may be continuous rather than discrete. A reaction scheme is introduced here which shows the coexistence of polymerizations on or in the polymer particles and in the aqueous phase.     

A novel approach to prepare core/shell polymer latex particles with high sulphonate contents

Crosslinked x-P(St-MAA) seed latex was first prepared via soap-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene (St) and methyl methacrylic acid (MAA) with divinyl benzene as crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as initiator, and x-P(St-MAA)/x-P(St-NaSS) core/shell latex particles were then synthesized through a novel seeded emulsion copolymerization of St and sodium styrene sulphonate (NaSS) in the presence of water-soluble crosslinker N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (BAA) using oil-soluble 2,2-azobis isobutyronitrile as initiator. TEM observation indicated that narrow dispersed core/shell latex particles were obtained, and element analysis showed that NaSS unit content in the whole particle and in the shell reached 22.8 wt% and 51.2 wt%, respectively.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of emulsion polymerization initiated by oil-soluble initiators. IV. Kinetic modeling of unseeded emulsion polymerization of styrene initiated by 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile

To explain the kinetic features of particle formation and growth in unseeded emulsion polymerization initiated by oil-soluble initiators, a mathematical kinetic model is proposed, based on the assumption that when initiator radicals or monomer radicals in the water phase enter monomer-solubilized emulsifier micelles, initiate polymerization, and propagate to a chain length which is long enough not to desorb from the micelles, the micelles are regarded to be transformed into polymer particles. It is demonstrated by comparing the experimental results obtained in the emulsion polymerization of styrene initiated by the oil-soluble initiator, 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile, with sodium lauryl sulfate as emulsifier that the proposed kinetic model satisfactorily explains the kinetic features such as the effects of initial emulsifier, initiator, and monomer concentrations on both the number of polymer particles produced and the monomer conversion versus time histories. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.