Properties of copper phthalocyanine microencapsulated in polystyrene by phase separation

Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) was microencapsulated by liquid phase separati on in an organic solvent using a polystyrene (PS) wall. Experimental result s show that the molecular weight of PS effects properties of CuPc such as f lowability, dispersing ability, wetting property and particle size. The wet ting angle for the microcapsule is increased, and flowability and dispersin g level (in toluene) of microencapsulated CuPc are improved significantly. A better pigment dispersion can be prepared by PS using a loading of 2-5%. Thus it is possible to reduce the viscosity of a dispersion coloured with m icroencapsulated CuPc and increase the solids loading of the dispersion sys tem. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail rights reserved.