Synthesis and characterization of core-shell colloids with fluorocarbon cores

The synthesis of core-shell particles with polycrystalline fluorocarbon (MF A) cores (derived from preformed seeds) and highly crosslinked polystyrene (PS) shells via essentially surfactant-free emulsion polymerization is repo rted. The composite latexes in aqueous dispersion and in THF solution were characterized by light scattering, asymmetric field flow fractionation and TEM. The results indicate that while in aqueous dispersion one obtains core -shell particles with a narrow size distribution and a sharp fluorocarbon/p olystyrene interface, the dissolution of the latexes in THF leads to hollow sphere structures of crosslinked polystyrene.