Controlled particle size and synthesizing mechanism of microsphere of poly(MMA-BuMA) prepared by emulsion polymerization

Abstract

Based on the characteristics of potassium peroxydisulfate (KPS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a series of microspheres of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate) [poly(MMA-BuMA)] were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. The particle size of poly(MMA-BuMA) microspheres increased from 65 to 1144 nm with varing amounts of KPS and SDS as well; and the mean square errors increased from 5 to 6253 with various amounts of KPS and SDS as well. It was found that the analyzed mechanism of emulsifying polymerization can be carried out under non-equilibrium state, and the analyzed mechanism of emulsifier-free polymerization and the oligomer-micellar nucleation theory were coming into conflict. ©2009 The Society of Polymer Science.