Controlling size and distribution for nano-sized polystyrene spheres

Dong Shin Yun, Hyeong Seok Lee, Ho Gyeom Jang, Jung Whan Yoo

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    22 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Highly monodisperse polystyrene (PS) nanospheres were fabricated by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization in water using styrene, 2,2'-azobis(2-methyl propionamidine) dihydrochloride (AIBA), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). The size and distribution of the PS nanospheres were systematically investigated in terms of initiator concentration, stabilizer concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time, and reactant concentration. With increasing AIBA initiator concentration, PS particle sizes are raised proportionally, and can be controlled from 120 to 380 nm. Particle sizes were reduced with increasing PVP concentration. This decrease occurs because a high PVP concentration leads to a large number of primary nuclei in the early stage of polymerization. When the reaction temperature increased, the sizes of the PS particles decrease slightly. The particles grew quickly during the initial reaction stage (1-3 h) and the growth rate became steady-state after 6 h. The PS sizes approximately doubled when the reactant (styrene, PVP, azo-initiator) concentrations were increased by a factor of eight.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1345-1348
    Number of pages4
    JournalBulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
    Volume31
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010 May 20

    Keywords

    • Nanospheres
    • Polymer
    • Polystyrene
    • Surfactant-free emulsion polymerization

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Chemistry

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