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Amphiphilically stabilized block copolymer particles via heterophase polymerization in glacial acetic acid

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Abstract

Radical heterophase polymerization of styrene in glacial acetic acid initiated with either 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile or poly(ethylene glycol)-azo initiators and in the presence of poly(methyl methacrylate) or poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomers is described for the first time ever. It turned out to be a convenient route to amphiphilically stabilized block copolymer dispersions. These block copolymers, after the polymerization in glacial acetic acid, can be easily transferred to other continuous phases which are selective solvents for one of the different constituent blocks. Electron microscopy results are presented regarding the morphology of the block copolymer particles in glacial acetic acid, water, and in a mixture of tetralin, cis-decalin, and tetrachlormethane. Depending on the particular composition of the block copolymers and the nature of the continuous phase, the changes in the morphology for a given block copolymer can be quite dramatic.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge preparative and analytical assistance by Mrs. U. Lubahn and Mrs. S. Pirok. For taking the huge amount of SEM and TEM images, the authors thank Mrs. R. Pitsche and Mrs. H. Runge. Financial support by the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Colloid Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Golm, 14476, Potsdam, Germany

    F. Roohi & K. Tauer

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  1. F. Roohi
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  2. K. Tauer
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Correspondence to K. Tauer.

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Roohi, F., Tauer, K. Amphiphilically stabilized block copolymer particles via heterophase polymerization in glacial acetic acid. Colloid Polym Sci 291, 3–20 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-012-2737-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-012-2737-4

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