Preparation of monodisperse polystyrene microspheres: effect of reaction parameters on particle formation, and optical performances of its diffusive agent application

Abstract

There are three monodisperse polystyrene (PSt) microspheres, 1.10, 3.13, and 5.21 um in diameter were prepared by dispersion polymerization in ethanol/iso-propanol media. 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were utilized as initiator and steric stabilizer, respectively. The effects of the PAA stabilizer, AIBN initiator, St monomer, and EtOH solvent on particle size and size distribution were reviewed in this article. Besides, optical properties including total transmittance (T%) and transmittance haze (H%) were performed when these three monodisperse PSt microspheres were applied as diffusive agents. The results were examined in terms of total interface area in a system, and came up an optimal situation between transmittance haze (H max% = 65%) and T% when total surface area of particles is around 45,000 cm2.