Facile fabrication of hollow polymer microspheres through the phase-inversion method.
This letter reports a novel, facile method of fabricating hollow polymer microspheres based on the phase-inversion method. In this approach, when hydrophobic chlorinated polypropylene was grafted with methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and acrylic acid via free-radical polymerization and then neutralized by triethylamine and gradually diluted with deionized water, phase inversion happened, directly yielding hollow polymer microspheres. SEM, TEM, and optical images confirmed the hollow structure. A formation mechanism of the hollow polymer microspheres was proposed.
Cao
Yichen
Y
Department of Materials Science and the Advanced Coatings Research Center of the China Educational Ministry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
You
Bo
B
Wu
Limin
L
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008863:Microspheres; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D011108:Polymers; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water