Preparation of uniform poly(glycidyl methacrylate) porous microspheres by membrane emulsification–polymerization technology

Abstract

AbstractUniform poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐divinyl‐benzene) (P(GMA‐DVB)) and poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐ethylene dimethacrylate) (P(GMA‐EGDMA)) porous microspheres with several 10 μm were successfully prepared by membrane emulsification–polymerization technology. Conventional suspension polymerization method was first investigated by examining the effects of recipe components on the morphologies of P(GMA‐DVB), including stabilizer, diluent, and crosslinker to select a optimum recipe. The membrane emulsification–polymerization process was developed to prepare uniform PGMA porous microspheres as the following: the oil phase composed of monomer, diluent and initiator was pressed through membrane pores into the aqueous phase to form uniform droplets, and subsequent suspension polymerization was carried out. GMA and 4‐methyl‐2‐pentanol in the selected recipe were relatively hydrophilic, and therefore oil phase could wet the hydrophilic glass membrane and bring about polydispersed droplets. However, when isooctane was added as a component of diluents, the uniform droplets could be prepared by membrane emulsification method. In the membrane emulsification–polymerization, the coagulation between microspheres obviously decreased while yield of microspheres slightly increased. To extend the application of PGMA, as a trail, uniform P(GMA‐EGDMA) porous microspheres were also successfully prepared by membrane emulsification–polymerization with a isooctane contained diluent, even though EGDMA was more hydrophilic than DVB. Therefore, recipe was found the important factor to prepare uniform PGMA porous microspheres using membrane emulsification–polymerization method. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5018–5027, 2006