Particle size effect, soluble polymer

A promising strategy towards stable and catalyticaUy active metal colloids is their preparation inside the core of micelles formed by amphiphilic block copolymers. This strategy offers a number of advantages (i) micelles represent a nano-structured environment which can be exactly tailored by block copolymer synthesis (ii) polymers act as effective steric stabilizer ]36] (iii) metal leaching might be avoided (iv) micelles allow control over particle size, size distribution and particle solubility [37] and (v) micelles are also supposed to effect catalytic activity and selectivity [38]. 

Electron microscopy of the final latex of the experiments given in Table I showed almost no new nucleation. The particle size distributions were narrow and indicated no noticeable coagulation as well. New nucleation would lead to increased rates whereas coagulation would have the opposite effect. Any decrease in the rate therefore must be due to a decrease in [m], if we assume n to be constant. We therefore determined the tofuene/polymer ratio in the seed latex in the absence and presence of the various additives. Toluene was chosen as the solvent, because it is similar to styrene and allows the measurement of equilibrium solubilities without the risk of polymerization. Table II gives the experimental values of the toluene solubility in the seed as a function of time. The results indicate that the swelling is nearly complete within 5 to 10 min. 

A9.3.5.10.2 Polymers represent a special kind of complex substance, requiring consideration of the polymer type and their dissolution/dispersal behaviour. Polymers may dissolve as such without change, (true solubility related to particle size), be dispersible, or portions consisting of low molecular weight fractions may go into solution. In the latter case, in effect, the testing of a polymer is a test of the ability of low molecular mass material to leach from the bulk polymer, and whether this leachate is toxic. It can thus be considered in the same way as a complex mixture in that a loading of polymer can best characterize the resultant leachate, and hence the toxicity can be related to this loading. 

Temperature has dramatic effect on the electrokinetic properties of thenno-sensitive polymers. A pH independent electrophoretic mobility of about -0.5x10 m" V s" (pH 3-11) in the presence of 0.1 mol dm NaCl was reported for synthetic poly (A-isopropylacrylamide) latex (persulfate initiator) at 20°C [17]. The same material has a mobility of about -5x10 m V s" (ten times greater ) at 50 C. This dramatic change occurs when the lowest critical solubility temperature is exceeded, and it is accompanied by substantial decrease in particle size (factor about two,... 

This section is principally devoted to the preparation of thermally sensitive hydrogel particles using the batch polymerization process. The effect of each reactant and parameter (initiator, temperature, cross-linker agent) on the polymerization process (polymerization kinetic, conversion, final particle size, morphology, water-soluble polymer, etc.) is presented and discussed. For the... 

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