Effect of various synthesis parameters on styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer properties

Suspension polymerization technique was used to synthesize porous polystyrene polymer cross-linked with divinylbenzene. The effects of various synthesis parameters (amount of initiator, cross-linker and diluent, type of diluent and agitation speed) were evaluated for average particle size, particle size distribution and surface morphology. The results analyzed by SEM, TEM, EDX, FTIR and sieving showed that average particle size decreases with increasing initiator amount. Optimum uniformity was obtained at low initiator amount and high cross-linker amount. The results also showed that type of diluent does not affect average particle size, while particle distribution and surface morphology were affected by agitation speed.