Control of Particle Morphology in Ab Initio RAFT Mediated Emulsion Polymerization

Ewan Sprong; Hank De Bruyn; Christopher H. Such; Brian S. Hawkett

doi:10.1071/CH09215

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Control of Particle Morphology in Ab Initio RAFT Mediated Emulsion Polymerization

Ewan Sprong ^A , Hank De Bruyn ^B , Christopher H. Such ^A and Brian S. Hawkett ^B ^C

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Dulux Australia, 1970 Princes Highway, Clayton, Vic 3168, Australia.

^B Key Centre for Polymer Colloids, Chemistry F11, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

^C Corresponding author. Email: b.hawkett@chem.usyd.edu.au

Australian Journal of Chemistry 62(11) 1501-1506 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH09215
Submitted: 14 April 2009 Accepted: 8 May 2009 Published: 20 November 2009

Abstract

Recent advances in the use of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in dispersed phase systems have paved the way for the fine control of the morphology of latex particles that was not possible by conventional free radical polymerization techniques. With this approach, living amphiphilic block copolymers are synthesized that self-assemble to form micelles. The hydrophilic segment is formed from a water-soluble monomer which stabilizes the latex particles as polymerization proceeds and the latex particles grow. The hydrophobic ends of the RAFT diblocks ultimately grow into the polymer that forms the body of the particles. This paper presents examples of ways in which these advances can be used to engineer latex particles with unique morphologies that exhibit specific application properties.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Australian Research Council for funding, Dulux Australia for funding and technical support, and Rohm & Haas, Spring House, USA, for the DMA analysis. The authors dedicate this paper to Dr Ezio Rizzardo for creating RAFT and making the past 10 years of our research so incredibly exciting.

References

Control of Particle Morphology in Ab Initio RAFT Mediated Emulsion Polymerization

Abstract

Acknowledgements

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