Flow synthesis of monodisperse micron-sized polymer particles by heterogeneous polymerization using a water-in-oil slug flow with a non-ionic surfactant

Flow synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) particles was performed by heterogeneous polymerization of methyl methacrylate using a water-in-oil (W/O) slug flow with or without a non-ionic surfactant in the continuous organic phase. It was found that undesired phenomena in this polymerization system, clogging of the channel and broadening particle size distribution, can occur when growing polymer particles adsorb to the W/O interface during polymerization, and that the addition of non-ionic surfactant to the continuous organic phase prevents the particles from adsorption to the W/O interface and gives monodisperse polymer particles. In addition, it was shown that as the initiator concentration increases, the particle diameter becomes larger, resulting in monodisperse micron-sized polymer particles with 100% monomer conversion at a 120-min reaction time. These results indicated that the heterogeneous polymerization process using a W/O slug flow can be a promising way to continuously prepare monodisperse polymer particles with micron sizes in a short reaction time

Rapid Synthesis of Poly(methyl methacrylate) Particles with High Molecular Weight by Soap‐Free Emulsion Polymerization Using Water‐in‐Oil Slug Flow

flow process for the production of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles is proposed by soap‐free emulsion polymerization using a water‐in‐oil (W/O) slug flow in a microreactor. Thin oil films generated around the dispersed aqueous phase of the W/O slug prevent the prepared particles from adhesion to the microchannel wall, enabling the continuous production of PMMA particles without clogging. The effects of the linear flow rate of the slug flow and the addition of ethanol in the dispersed aqueous phase on the polymerization are evaluated. It is found that increasing the linear flow rate of the slug flow or the addition of ethanol in the dispersed aqueous phase results in PMMA particles with high molecular weight (≈1500 kg mol−1) in 20 min reaction time. It is believed that this process would be a promising way to prepare polymer particles with high molecular weight in a short reaction time

Flow synthesis of monodisperse micron-sized polymer particles by heterogeneous polymerization using a water-in-oil slug flow with a non-ionic surfactant

Flow synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) particles was performed by heterogeneous polymerization of methyl methacrylate using a water-in-oil (W/O) slug flow with or without a non-ionic surfactant in the continuous organic phase. It was found that undesired phenomena in this polymerization system, clogging of the channel and broadening particle size distribution, can occur when growing polymer particles adsorb to the W/O interface during polymerization, and that the addition of non-ionic surfactant to the continuous organic phase prevents the particles from adsorption to the W/O interface and gives monodisperse polymer particles. In addition, it was shown that as the initiator concentration increases, the particle diameter becomes larger, resulting in monodisperse micron-sized polymer particles with 100% monomer conversion at a 120-min reaction time. These results indicated that the heterogeneous polymerization process using a W/O slug flow can be a promising way to continuously prepare monodisperse polymer particles with micron sizes in a short reaction time

Rapid Synthesis of Poly(methyl methacrylate) Particles with High Molecular Weight by Soap‐Free Emulsion Polymerization Using Water‐in‐Oil Slug Flow

flow process for the production of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles is proposed by soap‐free emulsion polymerization using a water‐in‐oil (W/O) slug flow in a microreactor. Thin oil films generated around the dispersed aqueous phase of the W/O slug prevent the prepared particles from adhesion to the microchannel wall, enabling the continuous production of PMMA particles without clogging. The effects of the linear flow rate of the slug flow and the addition of ethanol in the dispersed aqueous phase on the polymerization are evaluated. It is found that increasing the linear flow rate of the slug flow or the addition of ethanol in the dispersed aqueous phase results in PMMA particles with high molecular weight (≈1500 kg mol−1) in 20 min reaction time. It is believed that this process would be a promising way to prepare polymer particles with high molecular weight in a short reaction time