A new technique for preparing monodisperse polymer particles

A procedure is described for preparing fairly uniform spheres of three different nylon polymers by phase separation. The mean diameter and polydisperse index were 5 μm and 1.056 for Griltex nylon, 5.7 μm and 1.046 for nylon 6/6, and 12.9 μm and 1.016 for nylon 6. The phase separation is done by taking a 1 wt % solution in a theta solvent above the theta temperature and cooling it rapidly. The spheres of the three nylons have various degrees of roughness. Formation of highly uniform particles during phase separation is discussed in a preliminary way.