Polymers designed to control nucleation and growth of inorganic crystals from aqueous media

Water soluble graft polymers prepared by copolymerization of either methacr ylic acid (MAA) or vinylsulfonic acid (VS) with alpha -methoxy-omega -metha croyloligo(oxyethylene)s (PEOn-MA) serve to control nucleation and crystal growth during precipitation of inorganic crystals from aqueous media. Preci pitation of zinc oxide crystals ('zincite') is used as example for such min eralization processes. Homogeneous and narrow crystal size distributions ar e obtained in presence of ppm-amounts of graft copolymers. Copolymer is inc orporated into the crystals demonstrated by using latex particles with -CO2 H-group rich surfaces as controlling additives. Incorporation of these part icles leads to single crystals with pores of the size of the particles ('Sw iss cheese' morphologies).