Process for the preparation of microcapsules using a salt of a partial ester of a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for encapsulation and particularly for the preparation of microcapsules having a capsule wall of a solid polymeric substance enclosing a water-immiscible material, which process comprises preparing a solution of a first reactive component required to form the capsule wall in the water-immiscible material, then dispersing the mixture in an aqueous medium containing a surfactant which is a salt of a partial ester of a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, to form an oil-in-water emulsion, and subsequently adding a second reactive component required to form the capsule wall which is complementary to the first one and reacts with it under the mixing conditions, whereby a solid polymeric wall is formed about the dispersed water-immiscible material. The resulting stable aqueous suspension of microcapsules can either be used directly or after dilution with water, or the microcapsules can be separated from the aqueous phase.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.