• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2008

In our previous publication, the problem of particle deformation and coagulation at the nucleation stage in the presence of cross-linker was intensely studied by seeded batch dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA). In the present work, highly cross-linked, monodisperse PMMA particles were prepared under various reaction conditions by seeded semi-continuous process. Monodisperse, $6.5{\mu}m$-diameter PMMA particles containing up to 8 wt% of DVB or EGDMA were successfully made by seeded semi-continuous process and multi-semi-continuous addition process, respectively. Therefore, this study shows that seeded semi-continuous process is more effective and efficient to prepare highly cross-linked, monodisperse particles than non-seeded and seeded batch processes.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2006

When the monodisperse polystyrene(PS)/HDDA polymer particles were synthesized via one-step polymerization using polystyrene seed particles by dispersion polymerization, the effects of 1) the molecular weight of seed polymer particles, 2) the ratio of the absorbed HDDA to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio) and 3) seeded polymerization rate on the surface morphology of PS/HDDA polymer particles were investigated. It was observed that the creation of the crater shaped defect on the surface of PS/HDDA polymer particles was irrespective of the molecular weight of seed polymer ant swelling ratio. But its surface morphology could be controlled by the change of the seeded polymerization rate.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.244-255
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• 2007

Nucleation is the most sensitive stage in the preparation of highly cross-linked, monodisperse microspheres by dispersion polymerization, since the addition of a small amount of cross-linker results in particle deformation and coagulation. To overcome these problems, $5\;{\mu}m$ poly(methyl methacrylate) seed particles prepared by dispersion polymerization were used in the preparation of mono disperse, cross-linked PMMA particles containing up to 7 wt% divinylbenzene by seeded batch dispersion polymerization. Spherical particles with a narrow size distribution containing up to 8 wt% of EGDMA were prepared by seeded multi-batch dispersion polymerization processes. These particles were identified by scanning electron microscopy and DSC.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.332-337
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• 2006

Monodisperse polymer particles were prepared via one-step seeded polymerization using PMMA seed particles and HDDA (or EGDMA) as crosslinking monomer. For the study, the effects of 1) the ratio of the absorbed monomer or monomer mixture to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio), 2) the ratio of EGDMA in absorbed monomer mixture, 3) the dosage of initiator, and 4) electro less Ni plating on the variation of mechanical properties of monodisperse polymer particles, such as recovery rate, K-values, breaking strength and breaking displacement, were investigated by using MCT (micro compression test). It was observed that monomer swelling ratio influenced only breaking strength, but EGDMA ratio in monomer mixture, dosage of initiator and electroless Ni plating affected both K-values and breaking strength.

• 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.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.225-232
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• 2004

We have successfully synthesized relatively monodisperse and cross-linked melamine-formaldehyde (M-F) microspheres by dispersed polycondensation and subsequent pH adjustment with serum replacement cleaning. The average particle sizes (equation omitted): weight-average and (equation omitted) : number-average), the polydispersity index (equation omitted), the number of particles N$\_$p/ and the gel content of the M-F microspheres were observed by varying the pH, the surfactant concentration, and the polymerization temperature. We observed that both the pH and the polymerization temperature were predominant factors in determining (equation omitted) and N$\_$p/, but the effect that the temperature and pH had on the gel content ( ＞ 94% for all samples) was negligible. The exponents of the slopes of plots of N$\_$p/ versus pH and surfactant concentration were －10 and 0.6, respectively. Particle nucleation and growth were achieved within short periods; the incessant coagulation occurred even in the presence of surfactants.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.410-416
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• 2007

Monodisperse polymer particles were prepared via one- step seeded polymerization using PMMA as seed particles, and HDDA, triEGDMA or EGDMA as crosslinking monomer. For the study, the effects of 1) the ratio of the absorbed monomer to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio), 2) the characteristics of crosslinking monomer, 3) electroless Ni plating, and 4) electroless Au Plating on the variation of mechanical properties of polymer particles, such as recovery rate, K-values, breaking strength and breaking displacement were investigated by using MCT (micro compression test). It was observed that swelling ratio of polymer particles influenced only on breaking strength of polymer Particles, while electroless plating did on recovery rate, K-values ($K_{10}\;and\;K_{20}$) and breaking strength of electroless plated polymer particles. However, breaking displacement and K-values ($K_{30}{\sim}K_{50}$) were more or less insensitive to electroless plating.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.287-298
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• 2000

In preparing micron-sized monodisperse polystyrene beads by dispersion polymerization, the conversion, and the particle size and its distribution were affected by the reaction temperature, concentration of the monomer, solvent and initiator, molecular weight and concentration of the steric stabilizer, amount of oxygen existing in the reactor, and an appropriate combination of these starting materials. Ethanol as a dispersing agent, styrene as a monomer, PVP as a steric stabilizer, AIBN as an initiator, DVB as a cross-linking agent and toluene as a co-solvent were the basic materials for the synthesis. The reaction rate and the conversion were increased with the reaction temperature and the amount of DVB from 1 to 4%, and the conversion was saturated after 10 hours of the reaction time. The optimum reaction recipe for the preparation of the monodisperse PS beads was 25% styrene monomer, 0.5% DVB, 25% toluene, 10-15% PVP, and 2 and 4% AIBN, thereby, 3.9~4 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and 3.4~9.3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of polystyrene beads, respectively, were successfully synthesized.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.403-411
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• 2007

Monodisperse micron-sized polystyrene (PS) spheres were successfully obtained using a single stage soap-free emulsion method in aqueous media mixed with ethanol (co-solvent) containing NaCI as the electrolyte. The optimum conditions for preparing the monodisperse PS microspheres, using soap-free emulsion polymerization in a water/ethanol mixture with an electrolyte, were studied. The presence of the co-solvent and electrolyte controlled the particle dispersion stability during the polymerization. The microspheres formed using PS, with a weight-average diameter of $2.6{\mu}m$, coefficient of variation of 5.3% and zeta potential of -15.1 eV, were successfully obtained in the presence of 0.1 wt% NaCI, 10 wt% monomer, 0.1 wt% initiator and 95/5 (g/g) of a water/ethanol mixture reacted at $70^{\circ}C$ for 24 h.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2010

Polymer core and metal shell composite particles have been prepared by the electroless nickel plating on the surface of monodisperse polystyrene microspheres. Various sizes of polystyrene particles with highly monodisperse state could be synthesized by controlling the dispersion medium in dispersion polymerization. Electroless nickel plating was performed on the polystyrene particle with diameter of $3.4\;{\mu}m$. The morphology of polystyrene/nickel composite particles was investigated to see the effect of the plating conditions, such as the $PdCl_2$ and glycine concentrations and the dropping rate of nickel plating solution, on nickel deposition. With $PdCl_2$ and glycine concentrations at more than 0.4 g/L and 1 M, respectively, more uniform nickel layer and less precipitated nickel aggregates were formed. At the given plating time of 2 h, the same amount of plating solution was introduced by varying the dropping rate. Though the effect of dropping rate on particle morphology was not noticeable, the dropping rate of 0.15 mL/min for 60 min showed rather uniform plating.