Monodisperse glycidyl-functional polymer particles in the micron-size range by seeded polymerization

Polymer particles having glycidyl ether groups were prepared through seeded polymerization in aqueous medium. The polystyrene seed particles were swol len with a mixture of n-butyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and benzoyl peroxide initiator. The particles produ ced after polymerization were characterized regarding the particle morpholo gy and functionality. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy s howed that the particles are in the size range of 13 14 mum and are highly monodisperse with heterophase structures. Actually, the high content of gly cidyl methacrylate in the second monomer mixture caused the particle phase to be homogeneous. This effect was explained in terms of the surface tensio n of each polymer phase. Moreover, the cross-linking of the seed particles had a significant effect on the final particle morphology. From the HCl-dio xane back titration method, it was found that about 20 30% of glycidyl ethe r groups still remained on the final particles.