PREPARATION OF MICRON-SIZE MONODISPERSE POLYMER PARTICLES BY DISPERSION COPOLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE WITH POLY(2-OXAZOLINE) MACROMONOMER

This article describes the preparation of micron-size monodisperse Polymer particles by dispersion copolymerization of styrene with a poly(2-oxazoline) macromonomer in an aqueous ethanol solution. The macromonomer acted as a comonomer as well as a stabilizer. The diameter of the particles increased as the concentration of the macromonomer decreased. The higher the molecular weight of the macromonomer, the smaller the particle size. The copolymerization in the solvent containing higher water content gave smaller polymer particles. Under the condition giving the monodisperse particles, the particle volume increased linearly with the yield of the particles. From ESCA analysis of the particle surface, poly(2-oxazoline) chains were enriched on the surface. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.