• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2011

We measured shear viscosity of polymeric particles, prepared by suspension polymerization with hydrophobic silica as a stabilizer at $75^{\circ}C$, by a capillary rheometer. Shear viscosity displayed a non-Newtonian behavior with an increase in weight average molecular weight. Measurement of shear viscosity at 170 and $190^{\circ}C$ with copoly(styrene/butyl methacrylate) (co-PSB) particles by varying the ratio between styrene (St) and butyl methacrylate (BMA) showed that shear viscosity was a function of molecular weight, temperature and compositional ratio. When the ratio was 7/3, 5/5 and 3/7, shear viscosity slightly reduced with an increase in BMA concentration despite similar weight average molecular weights. We found that shear viscosity of copolymers with BMA concentrations exceeding 70% displayed a sharp reduction at high shear rates. It is speculated that increased PBMA chain length contributes to enhanced flowability of copolymers. When carbon black was incorporated into co-PSB, shear viscosity progressively increased with increasing carbon black concentration. The increase in shear viscosity, however, was less pronounced compared to the cases of molecular weight increase.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2010

We measured shear viscosity of copoly(styrene(St)/butyl methacrylate(BMA)) (co-PSB) particles, with a capillary rheometer at $170^{\circ}C$, prepared by suspension polymerization with hydrophobic silica as a stabilizer. co-PSB particles with the weight average molecular weights of lower than 74,800 g/mol displayed a Newtonian behavior at low shear rates. With the weight average molecular weight exceeding 136,800 g/mol, co-PSB particles showed shear thinning against shear rates and the absolute value of the slopes between shear viscosity vs. shear rate increased. When the ratio between St and BMA changed from 7/3 to 5/5 to 3/7, shear viscosity and glass transition decreased despite similar molecular weights. When the ratio was 1/9, it showed a large increase in initial shear viscosity despite reduced glass transition. Shear viscosity exhibited an increase in proportion to carbon black concentration. The effect of carbon black concentration on the shear viscosity of co-PSB composites was less pronounced compared to varying molecular weights and/or compositional ratio.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2012

A suspension copolymerization of styrene and butyl methacrylate (BMA) in the aqueous phase was conducted at a selected temperature between 65 and $95^{\circ}C$. Hydrophobic silica was selected as a stabilizer and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. Optimum dispersion of silica in water was obtained at pH 10 while polymerization reaction was run at pH 7. TGA and EDS measurements revealed that 90% of silica functioned as a stabilizer and 10% were incorporated into polymeric particles. Average particle diameter decreased with increasing amounts of stabilizer. Molecular weights displayed an increase when the stabilizer concentration reached 1.67 wt%. An increase in the initiator concentration and/or reaction temperature raised the reaction rate but decreased molecular weights. Particle diameter was nearly independent of the initiator concentration and reaction temperature. An increase in the BMA proportion decreased the glass transition temperature and increased the particle diameter with irregularity in shape. Incorporation of carbon black into the particles composed of styrene and BMA prolonged the reaction time before reaching completion. We have confirmed that a suspension copolymerization of styrene and BMA with hydrophobic silica as a stabilizer can produce spherical composite particles with $1-30{\mu}m$ in diameter containing carbon black.