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Independent control of mechanical and chemical properties of monodispersed polystyrene–divinyl benzene microspheres by two‐step polymerization
Author(s) -
Kobayashi K.,
Senna M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1992.070460104
Subject(s) - polymerization , materials science , dispersion polymerization , polymer chemistry , polystyrene , chemical engineering , styrene , monomer , dispersion (optics) , swelling , particle size , emulsion polymerization , polymer , copolymer , composite material , physics , optics , engineering
Abstract Monodispersed polystyrene (PS) latices of the particle size ranging between 4 and 10 μm were prepared by a conventional dispersion polymerization technique using poly‐(acrylamide) as a stabilizer. Styrene containing 2–20% of divinyl benzene (DVB) was subsequently polymerized on the surface of the latex by a seeded polymerization technique for the purpose of modifying the thermo‐mechanical and chemical properties of the microspheres. The softening temperature during hot pressing and the resistance against the dissolution on swelling in toluene or methyl ethyl ketone increased with increasing amount of DVB. The state of seeded polymerized particles was revealed to depend more on the total amount than the composition of the monomer added. By using the present technique, it is possible to prepare chemically stable, monodispersed microspheres with their diameters and softening temperature varying from 4.5 to 12 μm and from 106 to 126°C, respectively, with a free combination by choosing the appropriate dispersion polymerization condition and the amount of DVB during subsequent seeded polymerization.