Multihollow structured poly(methyl methacrylate)/silver nanocomposite microspheres prepared by suspension polymerization in the presence of dual dispersion agents

• Published in: Colloid and polymer science 2008-10, Vol.286 (12), p.1379-1385
• Main Authors: Lee, Eun Mi, Lee, Hyun Woo, Park, Jae Hyeung, Han, Young A., Ji, Byung Chul, Oh, Weontae, Deng, Yulin, Yeum, Jeong Hyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Composites; Dispersions; Exact sciences and technology; Food Science; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Microspheres; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Nanotubes; Original Contribution; Physical Chemistry; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer Sciences; Polymerization; Polymethyl methacrylates; Silver; Soft and Granular Matter; Suspension polymerization; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0303-402X; 1435-1536
• DOI: 10.1007/s00396-008-1907-x

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/silver nanocomposite microspheres with unique multihollow structures were prepared by suspension polymerization in the presence of dual dispersion agents. The addition of a lipophilic emulsifier, polyethylene glycol (30EO) dipolyhydroxystearate (Arlacel P135), not only stabilized water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion, but also converted silver nanoparticles from hydrophilic to lipophilic. When a suspension polymerization dispersion agent, poly(vinyl alcohol), was added to the above W/O emulsion system, a water-in-oil-in-water suspension was formed with silver nanoparticles dispersed in the oil phase. The suspension polymerization was carried out at low temperature with 2,2’-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as the initiator. When modified silver nanoparticles were added, the rate of polymerization increased slightly. High monomer conversion (about 85%) was obtained in spite of low polymerization temperature of 30 °C. Under controlled conditions, PMMA/silver microspheres with various hollow structures were synthesized. The PMMA/silver microspheres with multihollow structure showed high antibacterial ability.