Synthesis of PNIPA/PDMS‐g‐PAA core‐shell composites in supercritical carbon dioxide

Herein we report a means that has been developed to prepare smart polymeric microgels consisting of thermosensitive cores with pH‐sensitive shells. The microgels were obtained directly from seed polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). The effects of initial amounts of crosslinker, and Poly (dimethylsiloxane)‐graft‐polyacrylates (PDMS‐g‐PAA) on the yield and morphology of the resulting polymer were investigated. PDMS‐g‐PAA and crosslinker worked effectively as surfactant. PNIPA/PDMS‐g‐PAA particles with diameters in 50 nm were produced in scCO2, in high yield and in short reaction times.