Synthesis and Characterization of PNIPAM/PS Core/Shell Particles

Cross linked, monodisperse PNIPAM particles were synthesized by precipitation polymerization. The particle size was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS), capillary hydrodynamic fractionation (CHDF), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Two different polymerization methods were used to prepare PNIPAM/PS core/shell particles, both above and below the volume phase transition temperature (VPPT) using either a semibatch or seeded semibatch polymerization process. In both processes, uniform raspberry structures were obtained in which polystyrene formed small domains on the surface of the PNIPAM particles. The resulting core and shell structure was confirmed by temperature-dependent particle size and density gradient experiments. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 118: 2502-2511, 2010