Borderline Particles: Approaching the Limit between Colloidal Stability and Instability during Heterophase Polymerization

Abstract

Multiple suspension particles — a new morphology of polymer particles — are generated on the verge of colloidal stability in the course of redox-initiated aqueous heterophase copolymerization. These particles consist of block copolymers which are arranged in the form of a micrometer-sized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) physical network as scaffold containing nanometer-sized particles of hydrophobic polymers covalently attached