Synthesis of eccentric core-shell particles by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization with enzymatically hydrolyzed starch as the stabilizer

Monodisperse particles with eccentric core-shell structure were prepared via surfactant-free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) using enzymatically hydrolyzed starch (EHS) as stabilizers. A possible mechanism of the particle formation was proposed. The EHS and graft copolymer were characterized by FTIR, size exclusion chromatography, TEM, dynamic laser scattering, DSC, and thermogravimetric analysis. The particle size increased from 148 to 452 nm with the decrease in concentration and molecular weight of EHS. Application of the EHS as the stabilizer for SFEP showed that the EHS effectively stabilized latex particles and produced monodisperse latexes. The TEM and DSC results indicated that the eccentric core-shell particles were obtained and the compatibility of two phases was improved. The EHS content of the copolymer was approximately 15%, determined by the TGA results. This work provided an efficient, cheap, and eco-friendly method to produce monodisperse particles decorated by starch oligo- or polysaccharides.