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Monodisperse Silica‐Polymer Core‐Shell Microspheres via Surface Grafting and Emulsion Polymerization
Author(s) -
Zhang Kai,
Chen Haitao,
Chen Xin,
Chen Zhimin,
Cui Zhanchen,
Yang Bai
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200390031
Subject(s) - materials science , dispersity , polystyrene , nanoparticle , emulsion polymerization , chemical engineering , polymerization , monomer , methacrylate , methyl methacrylate , emulsion , polymer , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , composite material , engineering
We describe a flexible method for preparing monodisperse silica‐polystyrene core‐shell microspheres. In this method, silica nanoparticles grafted with 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS) were employed as seeds in an emulsion polymerization. The thickness of the shells could be changed through varying the amount of the monomer. The monodispersity and diameters of the core‐shell microspheres were found to depend on the size of the grafted silica nanoparticles and the concentration of emulsifier. In addition, we investigated the formation mechanism of the core‐shell microspheres.Schematic outline of the experimental procedure and TEM image of the monodisperse silica/PS core‐shell microspheres; inset: grafted silica nanoparticles (scale bar = 200 nm).