Synthesis of latex particles by ring-opening metathesis polymerization in dispersed medium

Colloidal particles of polyalkenamers were obtained by ring-opening metathe sis polymerization of norbornene (NB) or cyclooctadiene (COD) in dichlorome thane/methanol medium, using alpha-norbornenyl poly(ethylene oxide) macromo nomer as steric stabilizer. The dispersions obtained were characterized by electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Depending upon the experimental conditions used, the size of these particle s was found to range from 150 nm to 15 mu m. In particular, the particle si ze was shown to decrease upon increasing the concentration and molar mass o f the macromonomer. Beside these factors, it appears that the main paramete r that governs the size of the particles formed is the ability of these mac romonomers to randomly copolymerize with either NE or COD.