Nanohybrids from Direct Chemical Self-Assembly of Poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) as pH-Responsive Particulate Emulsifiers

Abstract

The nanohybrid particulate emulsifiers based on poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SMA) were facilely prepared via the direct chemical self-assembly triggered by the aminolysis of SMA with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and the in situ polycondensation of APTES under refluxing in acetone. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the spherical-like morphology of the nanohybrids. Dynamic light scattering and electrophoresis revealed the structure transition of the nanohybrids in response to pH change. The emulsification study showed that the nanohybrids were effective particulate emulsifiers when homogenized with various oils including toluene, paraffin oil, silicone oil, isooctyl palmitate, dicaprylyl carbonate, and propylheptyl caprylate. The nanohybrid particulate emulsifiers exhibited pH-sensitivity, and the diameter of paraffin oil droplets remarkably increased with pH of the nanohybrid aqueous dispersion decrease. Also, the reduced dynamic interfacial tension predicted the thermodynamically unstable state of the emulsions prepared at high pH values. Most interesting, the paraffin oil-in-water high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with a high oil volume fraction of 83.3% were formed when the nanohybrids were heavily flocculated by adding HCl. The HIPEs were pH-responsive and capable of demulsification with the addition of an alkaline solution showing a potential application in the oil industry.

Reactive particles from in situ silane‐polycondensation‐induced self‐assembly of poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) as toughener for epoxy resins

“…Owing to the trace amount of water contained in the acetone (AR, water content ≤0.3 w/w%) and the catalysis of the generated carboxylic acid by the reaction between SMA and APTES, the in situ hydrolysis and polycondensation of Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 3 occurred then, which was further accelerated under reflux conditions. Therefore, the in situ polycondensation of the silane together with solvophobic interaction induced the aggregation and self‐assembly of SMA chains into nanoparticles . This preparation process is illustrated in Scheme (b).…”

“…The preparation method of SMA‐APTES particles is according to our previous contribution, and the reaction route is shown in Scheme (a). According to the molar ratio of SMA and APTES ( n [SMA]: n [APTES]) = 2:1, the reaction was carried out.…”

pH/UV Responsive Polymeric Micelles Based on Coumarin to Tune Emulsification/Solidification Performance

“…Moreover, traditional solidification methods of the emulsion droplets often involved the chemical reactions with the use of initiators. Sun et al . and other researchers used 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator to solidify emulsion droplets to observe the morphology at the oil‐water interface.…”

Synthesis of styrene maleic anhydride copolymer grafted graphene and its dispersion in aqueous solution

“…Poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) is a type of polymer material with excellent performance and cost effectiveness. It is commonly used in pigment dispersants, 27,28 emulgator, 29,30 epoxy resin curing agents, 31 and other elds. The maleic anhydride segments at the SMA aer hydrolysis have high reactivity, thus the experimental conditions for functionalization of graphene using SMA may be very mild compared to other covalent modication cases.…”