Latex particles surface functionalization seeded emulsion copolymerization

The use of seeded emulsion copolymerizations to produce composite-functionalized latexes is widely proposed in the literature. In some cases, the authors prefer to use the terms core-shell latex particles or two- or multistep polymerization processes to name the different possibilities to produce composite-functionalized latex particles by using previously formed latex particles and polymerize onto their surfaces homopolymers or copolymers containing the desired functionality. 

Different approaches are used to prepare polymer particles with attaching to surface-functionalized groups. In majority of the cases, they consist of step-batch or -semibatch polymerizations in dispersed media, being among them pulsion polymerization (emulsifier-free or not) the most used polymerization process (i) emulsion homopolymerization of a monomer containing the desired functional group (functionalized monomer), (ii) emulsion copolymerization of styrene (usually) with the functionalized monomer, (iii) seeded copolymerization to produce composite functionalized latexes, and (iv) surface modification of preformed latexes. 

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