Monosize polystyrene latices carrying functional groups on their surfaces

In this study, monosized polystyrene (PS) latices were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene in isopropanol‐water media using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as a steric stabilizer and 2,2′‐azobisizobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The effects of initiator and stabilizer concentrations, alcohol/water and monomer/dispersion medium ratio on the polymerization kinetics, and the size and monodispersity of PS latices were experimented with in a stirred reactor system. Monosize PS beads in the size range of 1.0–3.0 μm were obtained. The PS latex obtained in the first step having a diameter of 2.3 μm were used as the seed latex, and styrene/acrylate monomers, acrylic acid (AA), 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) were copolymerized onto the PS latex particles. The incorporation of functional groups to the surface and bulk structure of PS was confirmed by IR, FTIR, XPS, and zeta potential measurements.