Accurately controlling the shell thickness in the core–shell microspheres with single silica core and poly (butyl acrylate) rubber shell via emulsion polymerization

• Published in: Colloid and polymer science 2018-03, Vol.296 (3), p.575-584
• Main Authors: Ren, Xiao-Ming, Wei, Yu-Han, Zhao, Hui, Jiang, Tao, Zhang, Qunchao, Shi, Dean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceu (musician); Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical industry; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Emulsion polymerization; Food Science; Micelles; Microspheres; Monomers; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Original Contribution; Physical Chemistry; Polybutyl acrylates; Polymer Sciences; Polymerization; Rubber; Shells; Silicon dioxide; Soft and Granular Matter; Thickness
• ISSN: 0303-402X; 1435-1536
• DOI: 10.1007/s00396-018-4275-1

The shell thickness of core–shell microspheres with a rigid core and soft rubber shell has been accurately controlled through the emulsion polymerization. When the amount of BA monomer and SiO 2 is fixed, the morphology of core–shell microspheres with SiO 2 core ( Φ  = 280 nm) and poly (butyl acrylate) (PBA) shell varies along with the emulsifier concentration ( C e ). If C e is lower than a low critical value C el , aggregated micelles with multiple SiO 2 cores are formed. And while C e is higher than an upper critical value C eu , isolated PBA micelles without SiO 2 core appear in the system. For a given amount of BA monomer and SiO 2 core, core–shell particles with single SiO 2 core can only be obtained at C el   Ʃ LC ), the rubber shell thicknesses of core–shell particles with single SiO 2 core can vary from 8 to 57 nm along with the weight ratio of BA monomer to SiO 2 that increases from 1:10 to 1:1.