Process for Producing Monodisperse Polystyrene Micro-Particles
AssigneeU.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsPacita I. Tiemsin, Donald M. Oglesby, Jacqueline L. Schryer
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Abstract
A process for producing highly monodisperse polystyrene particles includes steps of mixing water and styrene in a reactor, optionally adding an electrolyte to the mixture, purging the mixture of oxygen, adding a polymerization initiator while agitating and heating the mixture, and maintaining agitation and heating for a time sufficient to achieve a desired yield of monodisperse polystyrene particles having a particle size from 0.25 microns to 2.5 microns and a statistical quality factor greater than 10.
Claims12
A process for polymerizing styrene to produce monodisperse polystyrene micro-particles consisting essentially of:
- preparing a mixture of water, styrene and an electrolyte in a reactor vessel;
- purging the mixture of oxygen;
- adding a polymerization initiator to the mixture while agitating and heating the mixture in the reactor vessel, wherein the mixture is maintained at a temperature of from 65 degrees C. to 75 degrees C. during polymerization;
- maintaining agitation and heating for a time sufficient to achieve a desired yield of monodisperse polystyrene micro-particles comprising a particle size from 0.25 microns to 2.5 microns.
A process for polymerizing styrene to produce monodisperse polystyrene micro-particles, comprising:
- preparing a mixture of water, styrene and an optional electrolyte in a reactor vessel;
- purging the mixture of oxygen;
- adding a polymerization initiator to the mixture while agitating and heating the mixture in the reactor vessel;
- and
- maintaining agitation and heating for a time sufficient to achieve a desired yield of monodisperse polystyrene micro-particles.
Monodisperse polystyrene micro-particles having a particle size from 0.25 microns to 2.5 microns and a statistical quality factor greater than 10.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.