Morphology of Three-Phase PS/PBA Composite Latex Particles Containing in Situ Produced Block Copolymers

Three-phase styrene−butyl acrylate composite polymer particles were synthesized by combining free radical polymerization, which yielded PS and PBA- co -PS, and controlled free radical polymerization, which yielded a large amount of PS - block - (PBA - co - PS)). Particle morphology evolves from core−shell when the particles did not contain block copolymer to hemispherical when a large amount of block copolymers was produced. The existing models could not predict this change in morphology. A general approach for the calculation of the equilibrium morphology of multiphase particles was developed using a Monte Carlo method.