Synthesis and characterization of secondary‐amine‐functional microparticles

Secondary‐amine‐functional microparticles were prepared in the range of 50–250 μm through the suspension polymerization of styrene, divinylbenzene (DVB), and 2‐( tert ‐butylamino)ethyl methacrylate (tBAEMA). This study focused on the effects of the DVB, tBAEMA, initiator, and stabilizer concentrations and shaking rate on the experimental amine content, swelling ratio, average particle size, and particle size distribution. The suspension polymerization experiments were carried out in two different systems. In the first system, an organic phase, including the monomers and initiator, was dispersed in an aqueous medium in the presence of Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 . Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 , in the presence of an amine monomer (pH ∼ 10), formed colloidal Al(OH) 3 , which built a nonsticky layer on the surface of the polymerizing droplets that prevented them from coalescing and aggregating. Individual and spherical particles within the range of 50–200 μm were obtained by this polymerization method. The second method was similar to the first polymerization protocol, except that a certain amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate was added as a costabilizer in the presence of Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 . In these experiments, individual and spherical particles were obtained within the range of 130–250 μm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem: 3708–3719, 2004