PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYSTYRENE LATEXES BEARING DISACCHARIDE SURFACE GROUPS

Emulsifier-free polystyrene latexes covered with disaccharide species have been prepared by a seed (co)polymerization method in the presence of a hexylmethacrylate-terminated oligosaccharide 6-(2-methylpropenoy loxy)hexyl beta-D-cellobioside (CHMA). First, the surface activity of this macromonomer was studied using ring and drop volume methods, resp ectively. Then, its polymerization onto polystyrene seed latexes was c arried out upon varying experimental conditions: particle size, solid contents of the seed and type of comonomer. Analysis of the macromonom er distribution between aqueous and polymer phases suggested that an o ptimal surface yield can be reached upon increasing the overall surfac e area of particle and or using methylmethacrylate as comonomer. Final ly, the presence of the disaccharide residues at the particle surface was shown, either directly using NMR and ESCA analysis, or indirectly through the comparison of the electrophoretic mobility behavior of-the seed polystyrene and functionalized latexes.