Preparation of PEGMA-functionalized latex particles. 2. System styrene/<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylcaprolactam

In a previous paper Pich A, Lu Y, Adler H-J (2003) Colloid Polym Sci (submitted)], the synthesis of polystyrene-poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PST/PEGMA) particles has been described. In the present paper polymeric particles have been prepared by emulsion co-polymerization of styrene/N-vinylcaprolactam (ST/VCL) or styrene/n-butylacrylate (ST/BA) mixtures in presence of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA). The influence of the monomer composition and PEGMA concentration on the particle size and particle size distribution was studied. Increase of VCL content in reaction mixture leads to dramatic increase of the final particle size. Particle size distribution becomes broader at higher VCL contents. Poly(ST/VCL) particles show dramatic change of the size with the temperature.