EFFECT OF AMMONIUM PERSULFATE INITIATOR PRESENCE IN THE SEEDED DISPERSION POLYMERIZATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF MONODISPERSE POLYMERIC PARTICLES

In this study, the effect of the ammonium persulfate (APS) as a water soluble initiator in the methanol/water for preparation of nonspherical particles via seeded dispersion polymerization of styrene in the presence of various methacrylic seed particles using poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as a dispersant was discussed. It was observed that in the presence of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA), poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (Pn-BMA), and poly(2-ethylhexyl methacrylate) (PEHMA) seed particles, particles with velvet-like surface, unique uneven surface, bead-like shape, and void-containing anomalous shape can be produced, respectively. Moreover, the effect of polymerization conditions such as initiator concentration on the shapes of the obtained PnBMA/PS composite particles was studied. The experimental results showed that seeded dispersion polymerization initiated by APS is expected as a novel method for the production of polymeric particles with a variety of nonspherical shapes.

Keywords:

Morphology , Nonspherical particles , Seeded dispersion polymerization , Ammonium persulfate