H. Kitano et J. Kawabata, TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE POLYMER MICROSPHERES PREPARED WITH A MACROINITIATOR, Macromolecular chemistry and physics, 197(5), 1996, pp. 1721-1729
A macroinitiator was prepared by coupling of the disuccinimidyl ester
of 4,4'-azobis(cyanovaleric acid) with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PI
PA) with terminal amino group. Styrene and divinylbenzene were copolym
erized with the initiator in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate. Th
e polymer microspheres obtained have PIPA chains on their surfaces, an
d the stability of a suspension of the microspheres in the presence of
electrolyte is largely influenced by the temperature, whereas that of
microspheres without PIPA chains is not. The usefulness of macroiniti
ators to prepare various polymer materials which are responsive to ext
ernal stimuli was strongly emphasized.