A one-step method to prepare monodisperse polymer particles in the micron size range

Encapsulation of submicrometer-sized silica particles by a thin shell of poly(methyl methacrylate)

“…The formation of PMMA in the TEOS medium is thought to proceed via a seeding mechanism [9]. In their preparations of latex PMMA beads, Wang et al [9] observed that PMMA particles grew gradually from small beads into larger ones.…”

“…Similar with the method of Wang et al [9] which was developed for the preparation of latex polymer beads, a 1:2 volume ratio of MMA:TEOS was used. In our reactions the thermal initiator BPO was found to be suitable (1%, w/v, relative to the MMA).…”

“…Adapting the method of Wang et al [9], latex PMMA beads were prepared using BPO (1%, w/v, of monomer), freshly distilled MMA and TEOS, with a MMA:TEOS ratio of 1:2. The solid material, latex PMMA was isolated and purified according to the above procedure.…”

“…The encapsulation process exploits a unique polymerization method developed by Wang et al [9] for the preparation of latex PMMA beads under static conditions without the requirement of emulsifying and stabilizing agents. We consider this simple method of PMMA synthesis, which we apply in the presence of surface modified SiO 2 , to be highly attractive from the standpoint that clean polymer surfaces of the SiO 2 coreshell hybrids are obtained.…”

“…Surface modification of the colloidal silica preparations can be subsequently performed in situ using the silane coupling agent 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) [6,[11][12][13] the particles hydrophobic with reactive methacrylate groups available for polymerization. Subsequently, the polymer encapsulation process [9] of the TMSPM-SiO 2 particles is applied. The thermally initiated radical polymerization is fast and facile, performed in a static environment using TEOS as a reaction medium.…”