Preparation of composite latex particles by engulfment

It can be predicted that, provided the interfacial energies are well chosen for two individual particles, then it is possible to engulf one particle into the other. This has now been achieved experimentally using poly-butylmethacrylate] particles as the host material and poly-styrene] particles for engulfment. Initially, anionic poly-styrene] particles were heterocoagulated onto electrosterically stabilised cationic particles of poly-butylmethacrylate]. Then on heating the heterocoagulated units above the glass transition temperature of the latter engulfment occurred.