Synthesis of styrenic toner particles by SPG emulsification technique

This research studied the initiator efficiency for producing polymeric part icles of poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) copolymers by a Shirasu porou s glass membrane (SPG) emulsification technique followed by suspension copo lymerization. BPO, ADVN, and AIBN were used as initiators and we found that BPO is the most suitable initiator. Copolymers for various feed ratios of styrene/methyl methacrylate were thus synthesized by benzoyl peroxide, and their copolymer particle size, molecular weight distribution and pat-ride s ize distribution were characterized. Then n-BMA or 2-EHMA was added as the third monomer to decrease the terpolymer glass transition temperature. This article describes the preparation technique, recipes and polymerization co nditions for producing both copolymer and terpolymer particles, particle si ze changes, the corresponding particle morphologies and glass transition te mperatures.