• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2005

In order to prepare high molecular weight poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver nanocomposite microspheres, methyl methacrylate was suspension-polymerized in the presence of silver nanoparticles at low temperature with 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as an initiator. The rate of conversion was increased by increasing the initiator concentration. When silver nanoparticles were added, the rate of polymerization decreased slightly. High monomer conversion (about $85\%$) was obtained in spite of low polymerization temperature of $30^{\circ}C$. Under controlled conditions, PMMA/silver microspheres with various number-average degrees of polymerization (6,000-37,000) were prepared. Morphology studies revealed that except for normal suspension microspheres with a smooth surface, a golf ball-like appearance of the microspheres was observed, due to the migration and aggregation of the hydrophilic silver nanoparticles at the sublayer beneath the microsphere's surface.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.341-345
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• 2010

Effects of modification of silver nanoparticles on the polymerization rate and morphology of poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)/silver microspheres prepared by suspension polymerization of MMA were investigated. The silver nanoparticles and their surface hydrophilicity played an important role in the polymerization rate and the morphology of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver microspheres. The polymerization rate increased slightly with modified silver nanoparticles. PMMA/silver microspheres with conversion up to 85% were obtained in spite of the low polymerization temperature. Due to the change of hydrophilicity of silver nanoparticles, different appearances of the microspheres having golf ball-like convex surfaces or concave surfaces were observed. As the hydrophilicity of silver was decreased, stable nanocomposites were prepared.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.240-245
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• 2004

Monodisperse PMMA micro spheres are prepared by means of a simple soap-free emulsion polymerization in methanol-enriched aqueous medium in a single step process. The size and uniformity of the microspheres are dependent on the polymerization temperature. In a stable system, the uniformity is improved with the polymerization time. The most uniform and stable micro spheres are obtained under mild agitation speed of 100 rpm at 70$^{\circ}C$. The monodisperse PMMA microspheres in the size range of 1.4-2.0 $\mu\textrm{m}$ having less than 5% size variation are successfully achieved with varying concentrations of monomer and initiator. As the monomer and initiator concentrations increase, the larger micro spheres with enhanced uniformity are obtained. However, the decreased amount of water induces the polydisperse PMMA particles due to the generation of secondary particles.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 2004

We prepared thermally robust fully crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate-co-divinyl benzene) ［poly(MMA-co-DVB)］microspheres successfully by precipitation polymerization in the absence of a stabilizing agent. The DVB concentration plays a pivotal role not only in the formation of the individually stable microspheres but also in the polymerization characteristics, including the particle size, the uniformity of size, the polymerization yield, and the thermal properties. The number-average diameter of the microspheres increased linearly, from 0.72 to 2.15 $\mu\textrm{m}$, and the particle size distribution became narrower, by elevating the uniformity from 1.35 to 1.12, as the DVB concentration increased from 20 to 75 mol%. In addition, the yield of the polymerization increased, from 73.4 to 98.6%, as the DVB concentration increased. Since the prepared particles possess fully crosslinked microstructures, no glass transition temperatures were observed, but all the samples prepared with DVB concentrations ranging from 20 to 75 mol% possess enhanced thermal properties. Based on the DSC and TGA data, the thermal stability of the mesospheres prepared by the precipitation polymerization is significantly improved as a result of crosslinking with DVB.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.519-527
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• 2004

Stable poly(methyl methacrylate-co-divinylbenzene) (poly(MMA-co-DVB)) microspheres were prepared by precipitation polymerization using acetonitrile as the main medium under various polymerization conditions, including modifications of the agitation speed, monomer and initiator concentrations, DVB content in the monomer mixture, and the use of various cosolvents. Gentle agitation was required to obtain smooth spherical particles. The individually stable microspheres were obtained at monomer concentrations of up to 15 vol% in an acetonitrile medium. The number-average diameter increased linearly with respect to increases in the monomer and initiator concentrations. We found, however, that the uniformity of the microspheres was independent of the variation of the polymerization ingredients because nuclei formation was solely influenced by the crosslinking reaction of the monomers. We obtained higher yields for the polymerization at higher concentrations of monomer and initiator. The concentration of DVB in the monomer mixture composition played an important role in determining not only the size of the microspheres but also the yield of the polymerization. In addition, although we employed various cosolvents as the polymerization medium, we found that acetonitrile/2-methoxyethanol was the only system that provided spherical particles without coagulation. This finding indicates that the precipitation polymerization is strongly dependent on the solvent used as the medium.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.3 s.47
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• pp.361-367
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• 2004

In this study, a different UV (ultra-violet) ray absorption system is presented in which butyl methoxydiben-zoylmethane (BMDM, a model UV-A absorbent, 320$\~$400 nm) is stabilized in phase-controlled poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres. The photochemistry of BMDM in the microspheres was investigated considering its phase characteristics therein. The analysis of a differential scanning calorimeter and X-ray diffractometer showed that the BMDM in the microspheres was present with a non-crystalline state. The phase control of BMDM in the polymer microsphere has an excellent ability to protect UV-A with maintaining its photo- and thermal stability. The results obtained in this study illustrate well that the phase control of the UV absorbents in the polymer microspheres is another key factor that de-termines its photochemistry and photostability in the final formulations.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2011

Herein, macroporous carbon materials were readily prepared by carbonization of cured body of resorcinol and formaldehyde using poly(methyl methacrylate) colloid microspheres which were employed as the template in the gelation of resorcinol with formaldehyde. The gel in the water was solvent exchanged with methanol and the wet gel was dried. After carbonization of the template-gel composite at $800^{\circ}C$, it was found that pores were left corresponding to the size of the template, yielding carbon materials with a fine porous structure with enlarged surface area and significant porosity. Properties of the carbon foams including the structure, morphology, thermal stability, and porosity were investigated. Finally, it was concluded that the method using polymer colloids as the template provided a facile route to prepare carbon foams.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.399-403
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• 2008

Monodisperse, micron-sized, hybrid particles having a core-shell structure were prepared by coating the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) microspheres with silica and by copolymerizing acrylamide (AAm) to supply the hydrogen bonding effect by means of the amide groups. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was then slowly dropped onto the medium under certain conditions. Because of the hydrogen bonding between the amide of the PMMA particles and the hydroxyl group of the hydrolyzed silanol, a silica shell was generated on the PMMA core particles. The morphology of the hybrid particles was investigated with transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy as a function of the medium conditions and the amount of TEOS. Improved thermal properties were observed by TGA analysis.