Synthesis of dimpled polymer–silica nanocomposite particles by interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization

Abstract

Dimpled polymer–silica nanocomposite particles have the combined advantages of dimpled particles and polymer–silica nanocomposite particles. This study presents a novel approach to prepare these particles by interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. Polystyrene–silica (PS–SiO₂) nanocomposite particles are first prepared by emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of glycerol-functionalized silica sols and then dimpled polymer–SiO₂ particles are fabricated by interfacial swelling of butyl acrylate (BA)/toluene and subsequent seeded polymerization of BA with the PS–SiO₂ particles as seeds. The effects of different parameters, such as the amount of surfactant used in the PS–SiO₂/H₂O dispersion, BA/toluene mass ratio, PS–SiO₂/H₂O mass ratio and stirring rate, on the formation of the dimpled particles are investigated. Optimization of the seeded polymerization conditions allows a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.