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Synthesis of Polystyrene/Hydrophobic SiO 2 Composite Particles via Oil‐in‐Water Pickering Emulsion Polymerization
Author(s) -
Elkalla Eslam,
Kaewsaneha Chariya,
Elaissari Abdelhamid
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.24906
Subject(s) - pickering emulsion , polystyrene , emulsion polymerization , materials science , chemical engineering , composite number , emulsion , nanoparticle , polymerization , styrene , thermogravimetric analysis , monomer , polymer chemistry , hydrophobe , copolymer , scanning electron microscope , composite material , nanotechnology , polymer , engineering
The aim of this work is to present a facile Pickering emulsion polymerization method for the synthesis of submicron polystyrene/SiO 2 core/shell composite particles. The commercial hydrophobic SiO 2 nanoparticles were used as stabilizing agent for creating a stable oil‐in‐water emulsion. Although the adsorption of hydrophobic SiO 2 nanoparticles in the emulsion system was unfavorable in terms of thermodynamics, by ultrasound treatment, self‐assembly of hydrophobic SiO 2 nanoparticles effectively stabilized oil‐in‐water Pickering emulsions during polymerization. Using 3 wt.% SiO 2 nanoparticles (based on styrene monomer) and 1:10 volume ratio of styrene monomer:water, the composite particles having average size of 790 nm and relatively narrow particles distribution were produced. With decreasing the volume ratio, smaller composite particles were created. Results from scanning electron microscope revealed that SiO 2 nanoparticles were located exclusively at the surface of the polystyrene latex particles. The SiO 2 content, determined by thermogravimetric analysis, was 12.6 wt.% in the composite particles. The route reported here may be used for the preparation of other composite nanostructures. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E195–E199, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers