Polymer Colloids for Catalysis in Fluorous Media and for Colloidal Crystalline Arrays

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Monodisperse charged polymer colloids in aqueous and non-aqueous dispersions have potential applications as membranes and catalysts. We chose poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer particles for the catalytic and colloidal crystalline filter fabrication applications. Micron sized poly(ethylhexyl methacrylate) (EHMA) cross-linked copolymers in fluorinated solvents were synthesized by dispersion polymerization using microwave heating for the catalytic applications. Sub-micron sized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) core-shell latexes in aqueous media were made by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization for colloidal crystal films (CCF) making.

Findings and Conclusions: Cationic EHMA copolymers slightly increased the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl hexanoate in fluorous media compared to the control experiment which lacked the polymer particles. PMMA CCF's fabricated by gravitational sedimentation method contained monodisperse FCC packed domains of 5-10 µm, point defects, and grain boundaries.