title: Preparation of poly(acrylic acid) particles by dispersion polymerization in an ionic liquid.
abstract: Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) particles were successfully prepared by dispersion polymerization of acrylic acid in ionic liquid, N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoro-methanesulfonyl)amide ([DEME][TFSA]) at 70 degrees C with low hydrolysis grade (35.4%) poly(vinyl alcohol) as stabilizer. Interestingly, the PAA particles were easily extracted as particle state with water. Thus, the PAA particles had a cross-linked structure during the polymerization without cross-linker. Moreover, it was also noted that the cross-linking density of the PAA particles could be controlled by thermal treatment at various temperatures in [DEME][TFSA] utilizing the advantages of nonvolatility and high thermal stability of the ionic liquid.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan. minamihi@kobe-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okubo