Synthesis of Controllable Carboxylated Polystyrene Microspheres by Two-Step Dispersion Polymerization with Hydrocarbon Alcohols

Carboxylated polystyrene (PS) microspheres were synthesized by the two-step dispersion polymerization of styrene in hydrocarbon alcohols (CnH2n+1OH, n=1–5) in the presence of acrylic acid (AA) as a functional comonomer, 2,2′-azobis-(2-methylbutyronitrile) (AMBN) as the initiator and polyvinylpyrroli...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bin Zhang, Jiazhen Lu, Xin Liu, Haibo Jin, Guangxiang He, Xiaoyan Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2018-01-01
Series:International Journal of Polymer Science
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8702597
Description
Summary:Carboxylated polystyrene (PS) microspheres were synthesized by the two-step dispersion polymerization of styrene in hydrocarbon alcohols (CnH2n+1OH, n=1–5) in the presence of acrylic acid (AA) as a functional comonomer, 2,2′-azobis-(2-methylbutyronitrile) (AMBN) as the initiator and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP55) as the dispersant. The effects of solvent type, AA concentration, and first reaction time on the carboxyl content on the microsphere surfaces were investigated. The PS microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and gel permeation chromatography. The results showed that the first reaction time of the two-stage dispersion polymerization had a great influence on the nucleation process, and appropriately prolonging the first-step reaction time had a great influence on the surface carboxyl content. The effect of the solvent on the surface carboxyl content of PS microspheres was significant. With n-butanol as the solvent, the carboxyl group content on the surface of the microspheres reached 57.05 mg/g.
ISSN:1687-9422
1687-9430