Effects of properties of the surface layer of seed particles on the formation of golf ball-like polymer particles by seeded dispersion polymerization

Abstract

Micrometer-sized, monodisperse polystyrene (PS)/poly(styrene-co-sodium styrene sulfonate) (P(S-NaSS))/poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (Pn-BMA) composite particles having a 'golf ball-like' shape were prepared by seeded dispersion polymerization of n-butyl methacrylate with PS-core/P(S-NaSS)-shell seed particles with various shell thicknesses in the presence of dodecane droplets in a methanol/water (80/20, w/w) medium, followed by evaporation of the dodecane. The effects of the hydrophilic P(S-NaSS)-shell properties of seed particles on the formation of golf ball-like particles were investigated on the basis of thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. The dimples at the surface formed by the volume reduction of Pn-BMA/dodecane domains were deep when PS/P(S-NaSS) seed particles, the hydrophilic shell of which was thick, were used, whereas PS/P(S-NaSS)/Pn-BMA composite particles, the P(S-NaSS) hydrophilic shell of which was thin, exhibited a polyhedral shape. This is attributed to the fact that the molecular weight of the shell moiety comprising P(S-NaSS) was reduced by lowering the monomer concentration to decrease shell thickness, which seems to result in an increase in the mobility of Pn-BMA/dodecane domains at the particle surface. On the basis of this finding, when the molecular weight of the shell moiety of the seed particle was increased, golf ball-like particles were formed, even if the shell thickness of seed particles was thin.

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“…The first example is a triple dispersion polymerization for the preparation of "golf ball-like" particles. Okubo et al [104][105] first prepared PS seeds and then enlarged these seeds by sodium styrene sulphonate monomer in the second dispersion polymerization stage. As discussed previously in dispersion polymerization section, polar monomers may result in polydisperse particles in dispersion polymerization if present at the initial mixture.…”

Macroporous materials: microfluidic fabrication, functionalization and applications

“…Therefore they improve the adhesion and prolong the distance of flight by reducing the air drag force. [145][146][147][148] Conventional fabrication methods include: 142,143,[149][150][151][152][153][154] (1) seeded dispersion/emulsion polymerization and (2) emulsion stabilization using small colloidal particles. However, the former techniques cannot be applied in biological systems (toxicity) and the latter one lacks precise control of the particle internal architecture.…”

Noble Metal Nanoparticles Prepared by Metal Sputtering into Glycerol and their Grafting to Polymer Surface

“…Metal NPs, semiconductors, inorganic oxides, and quantum dots synthesis were also investigated, especially in the confined space of surfactants, inorganic templates, and polymeric stabilizing agents [32][33][34][35]. The structure of the metal particles can be significantly affected by the preparation technique [36][37][38][39]. Their size, shape, and geometry strongly depend on the applied technique.…”