Small-angle x-ray analysis of latex particles with core-shell morphology

A small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) study of latex particles consisting of a polystyrene (PS) core and a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) shell in theq-range 0.037 nm^–1q1.5 nm^–1 (q=(4/) sin (/2); : scattering angle) is reported. The particle size distributions of the latices have been determined by ultracentrifugation and allow a quantitative comparison of the experimental scattering intensities with theoretical models. The data obtained for the PS/PMMA latex are shown to be consistent with the proposed core-shell morphology. Separate studies of the PS-core-latex demonstrate that the amount of surfactant being adsorbed on the surface of the particles can be monitored directly. All results show that SAXS is well-suited to study the structure of latex particles in great detail.