PEO-Covered Nanoparticles by Emulsion Inversion Point (EIP) Method

This study reports the first PEO-coated polymer nanoparticles synthesis by miniemulsion polymerization of nano-emulsions prepared by the low-energy emulsification method called EIP. The surfactant used was Brij 98, a PEO based non ionic commercial surfactant. The partial phase diagram of the system water/Brij 98/styrene was first determined. The Emulsion Inversion Point technique was then used on the water/Brij 98/styrene system to the formation of styrene-in-water nano-emulsions. After miniemulsion polymerization, particle sizes as low as 36 nm were obtained. To the best of our knowledge, this method had not been used for polymerizable system up to now.