Issue 27, 2017

Preparation of mechanoresponsive hairy particles using polymeric surfactants in emulsion polymerization

Abstract

We demonstrate that diblock copolymers comprising hydrophobic polystyrene and hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) blocks connected by an off-center anthracene–maleimide Diels–Alder adduct mechanophore are mechanochemically active when sonicated in the form of micelles. Non-crosslinked and crosslinked hairy poly(butyl acrylate) latex particles were synthesized using amphiphilic block copolymers as stabilizers in emulsion polymerization. Both non-crosslinked and crosslinked hairy particles can be mechanically activated by sonication, which means that the “hairs” on the surface of particles can be selectively cleaved. The sensitivity to mechanical force enhanced with increasing crosslinking of the PBA particles, but it may also lead to particle degradation. The mechanoresponsive hairy latex particles may facilitate the design of stress-sensing probes in aqueous systems.

Graphical abstract: Preparation of mechanoresponsive hairy particles using polymeric surfactants in emulsion polymerization

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Mar 2017
Accepted
07 May 2017
First published
08 May 2017

Polym. Chem., 2017,8, 3971-3976

Preparation of mechanoresponsive hairy particles using polymeric surfactants in emulsion polymerization

H. Li, Y. Zhang, Y. Liu, R. P. Sijbesma, J. P. A. Heuts and Q. Zhang, Polym. Chem., 2017, 8, 3971 DOI: 10.1039/C7PY00468K

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