Correlative studies on the fabrication of poly(styrene-methyl-methacrylate-acrylic acid) colloidal crystal films

Abstract

This research describes a one-step procedure for monodispersed poly(styrene-methyl-methacrylate-acrylic acid colloidal spheres [P(St-MMA-AA)] via soap-seeded emulsion polymerization. The effects ofreaction conditions such as temperature, stirring speed, initiation concentration, e.t.c. were examined. The results obtained showed that the spheres average particle diameter decreased with increase in initiator concentration, the reaction temperature and stirring speed and increased with an increase in monomer concentrations. The particles show stable mechanical properties within the transition and heating temperatures of 111.9 °C and 388 °C respectively. Zeta-potential values ranging from −31.8 mV to −36.5 mV which is indicative of stable dispersion of colloidal particles were obtained for all the prepared latexes. The assembled colloidal latex had periodic structures with mainly hexagonal three-dimensional structures with multi-facet arrangements. The latex also shows spherical shape of monodispersed core-shell particles.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Poly(styrene-methyl-methacrylate-acrylic acid)
• morphology
• colloidal crystals
• zeta potential

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the financial support of TWAS and UNESCO (TWAS-13-207RG/CHE/AF/AC_G-UNESCO FR; 324027772) for this research. They are also grateful to CSIR_National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology for providing the facilities for this study. Saumya is acknowledged for SEM imaging and Kiran Mohan is acknowledged for TEM imaging.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Third World Academy of Sciences.