Monodisperse glycidyl-functional polymer particles in the micron-size range by seeded polymerization

Polymer particles having glycidyl ether groups were prepared through seeded polymerization in aqueous medium. The polystyrene seed particles were swollen with a mixture of n-butyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and benzoyl peroxide initiator. The particles produced after polymerization were characterized regarding the particle morphology and functionality. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that the particles are in the size range of 13-14 μm and are highly monodisperse with heterophase structures. Actually, the high content of glycidyl methacrylate in the second monomer mixture caused the particle phase to be homogeneous. This effect was explained in terms of the surface tension of each polymer phase. Moreover, the cross-linking of the seed particles had a significant effect on the final particle morphology. From the HCl-dioxane back titration method, it was found that about 20-30% of glycidyl ether groups still remained on the final particles.