SynopsisThe development of supermolecular structure in polystyrene latex particles was investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Seed latexes of deuterated polystyrene were swollen with an equal mole-% of protonated styrene monomer, equilibrated, and polymerized to complete conversion. The scattering patterns reflect the extent of supermolecular structure development inside the particle. The data were analyzed by separating the Debye single-chain and spherical scattering form factors. The extent of segregation was found to depend on the relative size of the chains compared with that of the particle, going through a maximum at the ratio MJD; of about 0.1, where 0 , represents the weight-average diameter of the latex particle. When the chain dimensions are relatively very small, uniform molecular mixing is obtained. The best model for the segregated system is a graduated core-shell supermolecular structure.tions with the particle-water interphase. It has been reported that ionic chain end-groups are located at the aqueous interphase of the particle, the polymer chains growing inward from the surface?y8 The chain conformation inside such particles will be different from that of the bulk state. Therefore, it is important to understand how the polymer chains of the growing latex particle are arranged. If super-molecular structure or segregation exists within the