Colored Polystyrene Particles with a Surface Charge Influenced by Suspension Polymerization

Abstract

Blue polystyrene (PS) particles copolymerized with poly (ethylene glycol) ether methyl methacrylate (PEG-MA, Mn = 300, 475, 950) were prepared by suspension polymerization in this study. 0-10 wt% PEG-MA was copolymerized with 100-90 wt% styrene by suspension polymerization. These blue PS particles were characterized using SEM, IR, UV, DSC, and zeta potential measurements. The T-g data results for the suspension copolymers and a solubility test in THF along with the matching IR spectroscopy results showed that copolymerization proceeded during the polymerization process. The poly[styrene-co-(PEG-MA)] latices were 30-60 nm in size, with T-g values of 341-385 degrees K, zeta-potential values of 51.5-162 mV, and electrophoretic mobility values ranging from 3.3 to 10.9 x 10(-6) cm(2)/Vs. Blue dye incorporated into the polystyrene particles existed at levels that exceeded 85% based on the UV absorbance results.