Chapter 9: Photosynthesis of Polymeric Particles

In this chapter, we report the use of photopolymerization for the preparation of polymeric particles. By using emulsion polymerization, which can be activated photochemically rather than thermally, there is the possibility to control the morphology of the particles, going from full particles to polymeric capsules, by promoting a phase separation during polymerization starting from a polymerizing monomer in a dispersed hydrocarbon–monomer mixture. Aerosol photopolymerization was suggested as an alternative to emulsion polymerization. The aerosol technique was proposed either for the synthesis of full particles or polymeric particles with different geometry, by changing the ratio between the good and bad solvent. Both radical and cationic UV-induced polymerization have been exploited in aerosol photopolymerization processes. Finally, some reports on the use of microfluidic devices for the preparation of polymeric particles are also presented, in which the geometry of the devices plays an important role in the synthesis of particles with unusual morphology.