Nanoparticles carrying hydroxyl groups produced by microemulsion

Methylmethacrylate and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate were polymerized in oil-i n-water microemulsions that were stabilized by cetyltrimetylammonium bromid e (CTAB). Microemulsions that prepared changed continuously from transparen t microemulsions to turbid emulsions by increasing the HEMA weight percenta ge as a comonomer. Polymerization was initiated with an oil-soluble initiat or, azobisizobutyronitrile (AIBN). Stable P(MMA-HEMA) latexes were obtained about 40 nm in diameter. Molecular weights of the copolymers were in the r ange of 1.89-2.03 x 10(6). The glass transition temperatures of these copol ymers, which were obtained by differential scanning calorimeter, were in th e range of 95-99 degreesC. The comonomer ratio in the final copolymers were obtained from the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, which were smaller t han the comonomer ratios used in the original recipes. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.