Monodisperse micron-sized polystyrene particles by seeded polymerization: effect of seed crosslinking on monomer swelling and particle morphology

Monodisperse micron-sized polystyrene particles were produced by seeded pol ymerization, and the effect of seed crosslinking on styrene monomer swellin g and Anal particle morphology were considered. The monomer swelling proced ure using crosslinked seed particles was predicted with a thermodynamic equ ation. Employing this equation, the crosslinking density of the seed partic les could be determined from the rate of transport of the monomer molecules to the crosslinked seed particles. From a thermodynamic viewpoint, it was elucidated that the monomer swelling procedure was strongly dependent on th e seed crosslinking density. Therefore, for an effective swelling of the mo nomer, an optimum seed crosslinking density was required. After polymerizat ion of these swollen particles, highly monodisperse polystyrene particles c ould be obtained with a size range of over 10 mu m. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.