SURVEY OF PREPARATION TECHNIQUES OF MONODISPERSED MICROSPHERES OF GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE AND ITS DERIVATIVES

This article describes the preparation of monodispersed microspheres o f glycidyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate by radical polymerization. The initial stage of the polymerization reaction began in the liquid phase. As the polymeri zation proceeded, a nuclear polymer chain of microspheres was generate d from soluble oligomeric radicals and then solidified from the liquid phase. The radius of the microspheres was controlled by polymerizatio n parameters, such as monomer concentration, polymerization time, and the kind of polymerization solvent. A small number of thin platelike s ubstances may be produced by the anisotropy of the two-dimensional mon omer added to the oligomeric radicals. The monodispersed microspheres were achieved through the use of the following: (1) a fluorinated tube in which the polymerization reaction proceeded; (2) a monomer concent ration of about 1 mol/L; (3) a higher concentration of crosslinking re agent than used commercially; (4) the prevention of the occurrence of polymer microsphere aggregation; (5) pouring the solution mixtures int o a large amount of cooled acetone after the polymerization reaction; and (6) the use of a low-temperature purification process and centrifu gation at low temperature. This article describes the mechanism of mic rosphere formation and growth by solution polymerization. (C) 1995 Joh n Wiley and Sons, Inc.