• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.397-402
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• 2009

In emulsifier-free, emulsion polymerization with ionizable comonomer, the ionization of the comonomer is critical in determining the size of the final polymerie particles at sub-micrometer scale. In this study, polystyrene latex beads with carboxylates on the surface were synthesized using acrylic acid as a comonomer. Specifically, ammonium hydroxide was added to the emulsifier-free polymerization system to promote the ionization of acrylic acid by increasing pH. Smaller polystyrene latex particles were produced by increasing the ammonium hydroxide concentration in the reaction system, due to the enhanced stability promoted by the ionization of acrylic acid during the nucleation step. In addition, the surface morphology of the polystyrene latex particles was controlled by the concentration of acrylic acid, the dissociation of which was influenced by the ammonium hydroxide concentration.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1993 no.05
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• pp.7-14
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• 1993

Nowadays, microspheres are expected to be applied to biomedical areas and many studies are being performed. For biomedical applications, many kinds of microspheres were synthesized by emulsion polymerization, emulsifier-free emu]sion polymerization, and emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization with ionic surface-active comonomers. Further synthesis techniques about microencapsulation and magnetic microspheres are introduced. Among the practical applications of microspheres, some interesting subjects are introduced. These include solid-phase immunoassays, labeling and identification of lymphocyte populations, extracorporeal and hemoperfusion systems, drug delivery systems, and immunomagnetic cell separation. In addition, basic theories, problems and research trends are also introduced.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.491-494
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• 2010

Colored, electrophoretic polymer nanoparticles of poly (styrene-co-divinylbenzene-co-vinyl acetate)[poly(St-co-DVB-co-VAc)] were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion co-polymerization and reactive dyeing. The emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene, divinyl benzene and vinyl acetate was carried out at $70^{\circ}C$ for 20 hrs to obtain monodisperse polymer nanoparticles of poly(St-co-DVB-co-VAc) with an average diameter of 180~200 nm. These nanoparticles were transformed into poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene-co-vinyl alcohol) [poly(St-co-DVB-co-VA)] nanoparticles through the saponification reaction. The poly(St-co-DVB-co-VA) nanoparticles were treated with reactive dyes to obtain the colored, monodisperse electrophoretic nanoparticles, and their morphology and surface charge were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, UV/Vis absorbance and zeta-potentiometry.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.995-997
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• 2003

In this study, we have investigated the positively charged polymer particles using emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization for applications in electrophoretic displays. The FT-IR, Zeta potential and SEM characteristics showed that by emulsifier-free polymerization, the positively charged polymer particles were manufactured. Using these particles, we can obtain well-dispersed white latex particles in dielectric suspending media.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2009

Polystyrene/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PS/MWCNT) composites were prepared by the use of latex technology. The monodisperse PS latex was synthesized by an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization from styrene/potassium persulfate/water system in the presence of ethanol. The MWCNTs were first treated with acid mixture to eliminate impurities, dispersed in deionized water driven by ultrasonicator, and then mixed with the PS latex. From these mixtures, PS/MWCNT composites were prepared by freeze-drying and subsequent compression molding. In the small-amplitude oscillatory shear experiments, both complex viscosity and storage modulus increased with increasing MWCNT content. A pronounced effect of MWCNT content was observed, resulting in larger storage modulus and stronger yield behavior at low frequencies when compared to unmodified PS. It showed a transition from viscous to elastic behavior with increasing MWCNT content. Over the MWCNT content of 3 wt%, the storage modulus was higher than the loss modulus across all frequencies.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.524-530
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• 2004

Polystyrene particles (PS) with poly(ethylene glycol) units on surface were formed by an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization using styrene, poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEG-MMA) or poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEG-diMMA) at pH 7, and followed by freeze-drying to give the corresponding powders. The structures of PS particles were confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy, and the particle size and distribution the PS particle were observed by scanning electron microscopy and particle analyzer. Monodisperse polymer particles were obtained at a concentration of PEG-MMA 2∼5 mol% or PEG-diMMA 1 mol% relative to styrene. The highest zeta potential of polymer surface was measured to be 183 mV at a polymer of PEG-MMA 5 mol%, which was measured in dielectric medium by means of ELS-8000 dynamic light scattering.

• Proceedings of the Korea Crystallographic Association Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.53-53
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• 2002

Alkali-soluble random copolymer (ASR) was used as a functional resin in the emulsion polymerization of styrene to prepare structured nanoparticles. The calorimetric technique was applied to study the kinetics of emulsion polymerization of styrene using ASR and conventional ionic emulsifier, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). ASR could form aggregates like micelles and the solubilization ability of the aggregates was dependent on the neutralization degree of ASR. The rate of polymerization in ASR system was lower than that in SDBS system. This result can be explained by the creation of a hairy ASR layer around the particle surface, which decreases the diffusion rate of free radicals through this region. Although a decrease in particle size was observed, the rate of polymerization decreased with increasing ASR concentration. The higher the concentration of ASR is, the thicker and denser ASR layer may be, and the more difficult it would therefore be for radicals to reach the particle through this layer of ASR. The rate of polymerization decreased with increasing the neutralization degree of ASR. The aggregates with high neutralization of ASR are less efficient in solubilizing the monomer and capturing initiator radicals than that of the lower neutralization degree, which leads to decrease in rate of polymerization.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2006

Polystyrene, PS, particles of 450 nm diameter and poly(styrene-co-styrene sulfonate), PSS, particles of 140-160 nm diameter were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. The surfaces of the PS and PSS particles were coated with Ag nanoparticles for the application of antimicrobial agents by reduction of Ag ions using ${\gamma}$-irradiation. The Ag-PS and Ag-PSS were characterized by High-Resolution Transmittance Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDXS). The HR-TEM and EDXS data showed that the Ag nanoparticles were loaded on the surface of the PS and PSS particles, respectively. The antimicrobial efficiency of the Ag-PS and Ag-PSS particles (0.4 g) with ca. 100 ppm Ag, which was coated onto yam (KS K 0905-1996 rule), was tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352 after 100 washing cycles (KS K 0432-1999 rule). The antimicrobial efficiency of the Ag-PS particles against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352 was 99.9% after 100 cycles washing., confirming that the Ag-PS particles can be used as antimicrobial agents.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.267-273
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• 1993

A number of hydrophilic acrylic comonomers were incorporated into styrene-butadiene soap-free emulsion polymerization. It was found that reaction rate decreased according to : AN>AA>MMA>EA>IA>AAM>MA>HEMA. It was also observed that reaction rate increased with decreasing H-bonding factor contribution to the solubility parameter of the hydrophilic comonoer. The SBR latexes were very monodisperse with the particle size distribution of $1.03{\times}1.12$. Since growth rate is proportional to polymerization time, the difference in conversion rates between various comonomers was resulted from the particle number density of SBR latexes for the various hydrophilic comonomers. It was also found that the colloidal stability of the latexes was excellent because no external emulsifier was incorporated.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2003

The core-shell latex particles were prepared by sequential emulsion polymerization of alkyl methacrylate and styrene(ST) by using an water-soluble initiator(APS) after preparing monomer pre-emulsion in the presence of an anionic surfactant(SDBS). In organic/organic core-shell polymerization, the pre-emulsion method, which minimized required quantity of sulfactant, has been used to increase the conversion rate and the stability of core-shell latex particles as well as to reduce the formation of secondary particle that cause problems of soap-free emulsion during shell polymerization. We used several methods to observe the core-shell structure. The core-shell structure was studied by measuring pH change during hydrolysis by NaOH, glass transition temperature($T_g$) by differential scanning calorimeter(DSC), morphology of latex by transmission electron microscope(TEM) and change of particle size and distribution by a particle analyzer.