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Large‐Scale Fabrication of Polymer Microcavities with Adjustable Openings and Surface Roughness Regulated by the Polarity of both Seed Surface and Monomers
Author(s) -
Tian Lei,
Zhao Panpan,
Li Xiangjie,
Wang Shenqiang,
Ali Zafar,
Zhang Baoliang,
Zhang Hepeng,
Zhang Qiuyu
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201500449
Subject(s) - fabrication , polarity (international relations) , surface roughness , polymer , monomer , materials science , surface (topology) , surface finish , scale (ratio) , polymer chemistry , composite material , nanotechnology , chemistry , physics , geometry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , biochemistry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , cell
Polymer microcavities with adjustable openings and surface roughness are fabricated on a large scale via single‐hole poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) swelling seed particles. The size of openings of these microcavities can be adjusted by changing the amount of hydrophilic monomer, and the degree of surface roughness is easily regulated relying on the adjustment of the polarity of monomer. Furthermore, the morphology of PGMA/poly(styrene‐methacrylic acid) (PGMA/P(S‐MAA)) microparticles from microcavity to erythrocyte shape is controlled by the polarity of seed surface. From transmission electron microscopy images of PGMA/P(S‐MAA) microparticles, a fresh polymer particle appears in the cavity. To confirm this phenomenon, thermal annealing process in dioxane/water solution is carried out. Considering the flexibility of polymers, the openings and closing of the prepared microparticles are regulated following the increase in volume ratio of dioxane/water. Ball‐in‐bowl‐shaped PGMA/P(S‐MAA) microparticles are further presented, which proves secondary nucleation of monomer in the polymerization stage.