Use of block copolymer stabilizers for the dispersion polymerization of styrene in alcoholic media

Near-monodisperse micrometer-sized polystyrene particles were produced by dispersion polymerization in alcoholic media using poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-b-alkyl methacrylate) copolymer stabilizers. The effect of varying stabilizer concentration, copolymer composition, solvent, and reaction temperature on latex particle size was investigated. A maximum particle size of 2.8 mu m was found for 1-butanol in a series of alcoholic solvents ranging from methanol to l-octanol. As expected, the particle size decreased slightly with increasing stabilizer concentration; however, varying the copolymer composition had, surprisingly, little or no effect on particle size. As the polymerization temperature was increased, the size and polydispersity of the latexes increased.