A Timesaving Solution Route For Hollow Polymer Microspheres by Alkali Neutralization Method

A novel and timesaving preparing process for hollow polymer microspheres(HPMs) was proposed based on the improved alkali neutralization method. In the process, uniform HPMs were prepared by synthesizing poly(styrene-methacrylic acid){P(St-MAA)} particles with carboxylic functional groups by emulsion polymerization and subsequently hydrophilic and hydrophobic phases separating by alkali neutralizing. The morphology, diameter and monodispersion of P(St-MAA) particles were controlled by varying the content of methacrylic acid(MAA). Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) were used to characterize the products and to demonstrate that the polymer microspheres were hollow. The results indicated that the optimum MAA content was about 10%.