Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.50, No.10, 1991-1996, 2012
Preparation of poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-polystyrene particles by emulsifier-free, organotellurium-mediated living radical emulsion polymerization (emulsion TERP)
We have successfully demonstrated the preparation of poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-polystyrene particles without any coagulation by two-step emulsifier-free, organotellurium-mediated living radical emulsion polymerization (emulsion TERP) using poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)methyltellanyl (TeMe) (PMAA30-TeMe) (degree of polymerization of PMAA, 30) and 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) (V-501). The final particle size was similar to 30 nm and second particle nucleation was not observed throughout the polymerization. Mn increased linearly in both steps with conversion and blocking efficiency was similar to 75%. PDI was improved by increasing radical entry frequency into each polymer particle due to an increase of the polymerization temperature. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012