Dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in supercritical carbon dioxide using a silicone‐containing fluoroacrylate stabilizer

Abstract

Abstract Free radical dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) using poly{(heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate)‐ co ‐3‐[tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate} (p(HDFDA‐ co ‐SiMA)) as stabilizer. Dry, fine powdered spherical poly(methyl methacrylate) (pMMA) particles with well‐defined sizes were produced. The resulting high yield of spherical and relatively uniform micron‐size pMMA particles was formed utilizing various amounts of p(HDFDA‐ co ‐SiMA) random copolymer. The particle diameter was shown to be dependent on the weight percent of the stabilizer added to the system. The effects of varying the concentration of stabilizer (1–7 wt%), reaction time (4–12 h) and pressure (15–35 MPa) upon the polymerization yield, molar mass and morphology of pMMA were investigated. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry