102
Views
7
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Effect of Reaction Parameters on Size Distribution of Emulsion-Polymerized Polystyrene Latex Beads Studied by Gravitational Flow-Flow Fractionation (GrFFF)

, , , , , & show all
Pages 909-922 | Received 28 Oct 2008, Accepted 10 Dec 2008, Published online: 09 Mar 2009
 

Abstract

A gravitational field-flow fractionation (GrFFF) was employed to study the influence of various reaction parameters in emulsion polymerization on size distribution of polymeric latex beads. Micron-sized polystyrene (PS) latex beads were synthesized by conventional emulsion polymerization. The reaction parameters such as the stirring rate (rpm), reaction time, concentration of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), were systematically varied. Then the PS beads were analyzed by GrFFF for size determination. It was found that the mean diameter and the size distribution of the PS latex beads change as some of the reaction parameters change. No clear trends were observed in the mean diameter and the coefficient of variation (CV) with the stirring rate in the range of 60 to 300 rpm, or with the reaction time in the range of 13 to 24 hrs. A clear trend of increase in the mean diameter with the AIBN concentration was observed, suggesting the particle size can be controlled by varying the AIBN concentration without affecting the size distribution much. It was also found that the mean diameter tends to decrease as the PVP concentration increases while the CV tends to increase. Results obtained from GrFFF were compared with those obtained from photon-correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and optical microscopy (OM).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Some of authors were financially supported by the 2nd stage BK21 project. This work was supported by the Korea Foundation for International Cooperation of Science & Technology (KICOS) through a grant provided by the Korean Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) in K20713000009-07B0100-00910.

Notes

a mean diameter.

b CV of mass-based size distribution.

c mean diameter.

d CV of number-based size distribution.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.