Crosslinked polystyrene latexes prepared with 12‐(o‐styryloxy)dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide

Crosslinked polystyrene latexes with high surface charge densities have been prepared with 1, 3, and 5 mol% divinylbenzene and 0.5–5.0 mol% of 12‐(o‐styryloxy)dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (1). Within experimental error all of surfactant 1 was incorporated into the particles. Analysis of the latex particles by transmission electron microscopy showed nonspherical shapes, aggregates, and number average diameters ranging from 22 to 95 nm. The particle size decreases and the polydispersity increases with increasing amounts of surfactant 1 and of divinylbenzene in the monomer mixture. A mechanism is proposed for particle formation by precipitation of crosslinked polymer from monomer droplets to form primary particles, coagulation of the primary particles to colloidally stable aggregates, and growth by further polymerization.