Polystyrene, living polymer dispersion polymerization

Living radical dispersion polymerization is a promising way to expand the design and scope of functional polymer colloids to a wider range of other monomers. The 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-l-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO)-mediated living radical dispersion polymerization of styrene has been carried out in presence of PS-h-P(PP-aZt-E) in decane at 135 °C [95] or PVP in alcohol-water at 130 °C [96] in order to produce microspheres with a very broad size distribution, consisting of relatively low molecular weight polystyrene (M =10 ) with M /Mn=l.l. 

Similar techniques have been used to incorporate silica into various polymers. (Mineral fillers are often given hydrophobic coatings to help in their dispersion in polymers such as polyolefins.60) Methacrylatopropyltrimethoxysi-lane has been used to add the methacrylate group on to silica. The treated silica was used in the emulsion polymerization of ethyl acrylate.61 Transparent films could be formed from the product. Living polystyrene was end-capped with a triethoxysilane (5.20), after which it was used to treat silica and alumina.62... 

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