Preparation of Polystyrene Particles by Dispersion Polymerization in an Ionic Liquid

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 29; no. 7; pp. 567 - 572
• Main Authors: Minami, Hideto, Yoshida, Kazuhiro, Okubo, Masayoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.04.2008; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; colloids; dispersion polymerization; Exact sciences and technology; ionic liquid; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; polymer particle; Polymerization; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; radical polymerization; Particle size; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; colloids; radical polymerization; Ionic liquid; Submicron particle; Quaternary ammonium compound; Free radical polymerization; Preparation; Dispersion polymerization; polymer particle; Monodispersed particle; Styrene polymer; Spherical particle
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.200700810

Submicron‐sized monodisperse polystyrene (PS) particles were successfully prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene in an ionic liquid, N,N‐diethyl‐N‐methyl‐N‐(2‐methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([DEME][TFSI]) at 70 °C with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as a stabilizer. At the optimum PVP and styrene concentrations with regard to preparation of stable polymer particles, the number‐average diameter and coefficient of variation were 350 nm and 5.7%, respectively. The particle size increased with a decrease in the PVP concentration and an increase in the styrene concentration. Moreover, we succeeded in producing PS particles by thermal polymerization in the absence of a radical initiator at 130 °C in [DEME][TFSI] using a conventional reactor (not autoclave) utilizing the advantages of non‐volatility and thermal stability of the ionic liquid.