It
remains a formidable challenge to explore novel synthetic
approaches
and realize a high performance for conventional plastics, especially
for poly(vinyl chloride). Herein, we synthesize cross-linked poly(vinyl
chloride) (CL-PVC) microspheres via self-stabilized
precipitation (2SP) polymerization by using diallyl maleate (DAM)
as a cross-linking agent. The effects of solvent composition, DAM
concentration, stirring rate, monomer and initiator concentration,
and monomer feeding modes on the particle size, gel content (GC),
and morphology of the resultant CL-PVC microspheres are evaluated
thoroughly. The mixture solvent of n-hexane and ethanol
is suitable for conducting the 2SP polymerization of CL-PVC. Monodisperse
microspheres have a linear increase in diameter from 405 to 648 nm
with the DAM increasing from 0.25 to 16%. The GC values are highly
reliant on both the amount of DAM and its feeding modes. Subsequently,
the CL-PVC and dioctyl phthalate-extended CL-PVC (DECL-PVC) microspheres
are utilized as functional polymeric fillers in a rigid PVC resin.
It is encouraging that both mechanical and impact strengths are enhanced
concurrently. When 5 phr DECL-PVC (GC = 30.08%) and DECL-PVC (GC =
76.23%) are added to the rigid PVC resin, the tensile strengths thereof
can reach 73 and 78 MPa, respectively, which are much higher than
that of the contrast (∼54 MPa). Meanwhile, the highest impact
strength can reach 4.36 kJ/m2 by using 5 phr DECL-PVC (GC
= 30.08%) as a toughening modifier, which increased by 53.0% than
that of CL-PVC (2.85 kJ/m2) at a similar loading content
and 209.2% than that of pure PVC (1.41 kJ/m2). This work
offers a novel strategy for the synthesis of the CL-PVC microsphere
and opens a new scope for its further use.