Single stage polymerization technique for producing monodisperse micron-size polymer particles

A single stage polymerization method for producing micron-size polymer particles is proposed. This method is based on soapfree emulsion polymerization in which the aggregation and dispersion stability of polymer particles in the course of the reaction is controlled by the addition of ionic surfactants to the reaction system. The validity of the present method was examined by studying the polymerization of styrene. The selection of suitable reaction conditions produced monodisperse micron-size polystyrene particles that were six times as large as particles produced without the addition of surfactant. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.