Synthesis of Latex Particles with Surface Functional Groups and Their Applications for the Fabrication of Porous Materials

Abstract

In this study, monodisperse latex particles with specific surface functional groups were synthesized by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. Amidine or carboxylated polystyrene nanospheres with narrow size distribution were prepared by emulsion polymerization using AIBA (α,α′-zodiisobutyramidine dihydrochloride) as amine-containing initiator or acrylic acid as carboxyl-containing comonomer, respectively. Factors affecting the particle size and distribution were systemically studied by changing the amount of initiator or monomer, the polymerization temperature, and the stirring speed of emulsion polymerization reactor. Monodisperse polymethylmethacrylate beads were also synthesized by soapless emulsion polymerization using methacrylic acid or aminoethylmethacrylate hydrogen hydrochloride as comonomer for the surface functionalization of the particles. As applications of the latex beads, the polymeric particles were adopted as templating materials for the fabrication of macroporous titania film and meso-macroporous silica particles by colloidal templating method.