Synthesis of Large Monodisperse Poly(methyl Methacrylate) Particles via Dispersion Polymerization

Dispersion polymerization [1-3] is the best way to produce monodiperse micron-sized polymer particles. In this work, in the first stage, monodisperse micron-sized sphericalpoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles with an average size of about 6.4 μm were synthesized by dispersionpolymerization in the polar medium of methanol/water at 60 °C. It was observed that the increasing of the temperature from 46 [2] to 60 °C caused significant increase in the averagesize of particles. In the next stage, the average particles size was increased by swelling of PMMA seed particles withseveral concentration of methyl methacrylate monomer. Then, the swollen PMMA seed particles were polymerized for 24 h at 60 °C. The effect of concentration of each component on the average size of particles and its distribution was studied. As a result, monodisperse PMMA particles with an average size of 14 μm were produced, for first time.