Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics · 1998 · 104 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesChemistryMaterials ScienceNanomaterialsPolymer ChemistryPolymer MaterialsNanoparticle CharacterizationNanoparticle DispersionsNanoparticle SynthesisPolymer NanocompositesPolymeric NanomaterialsPolymerization ChemistryEmulsion PolymerizationNanoemulsionsNucleation MechanismsPolymer Nanoparticle CharacterizationPolymer Nanoparticle SynthesisPolymer NanoparticlesPolymeric Nanoparticle SynthesisSurfactant Interactions
Polymer nanoparticles were prepared from monomers such as styrene (St), butyl methacrylate (BMA), butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and methyl acrylate (MA) using a modified microemulsion polymerization process. With this process high polymer: surfactant weight ratios (7 : 1 or greater), relatively concentrated (10–30 wt.-%) latexes and small (10–20 nm) particle diameters were attained. Nucleation mechanisms were investigated through observations of the particle size change during the polymerization.