Synthesis of macroporous polymer particles using reactive gelation under shear
Alexandros Lamprou1, Itır Köse, Giuseppe Storti
1Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich , 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|May 24, 2014
Summary
This study introduces a novel method for creating robust, macroporous polymer particles without porogens. Turbulent aggregation and post-polymerization yield microclusters with large internal pores, ideal for chromatography and flow packing.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Colloid Science
- Materials Engineering
Background:
- Traditional methods for creating macroporous polymer particles often rely on porogenic additives, which can be difficult to remove and may affect particle properties.
- Achieving mechanically robust particles with controlled porosity, especially macropores, remains a challenge in polymer engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, additive-free approach for synthesizing macroporous, mechanically robust polymer particles.
- To investigate the formation mechanism and structural characteristics of these particles produced via reactive gelation under shear.
- To explore potential applications of these macroporous particles in areas requiring micrometer-scale pores.
Main Methods:
- Combining colloidal and polymer reaction engineering principles.
- Inducing aggregation and breakage of primary latex particles under turbulent flow conditions.
- Utilizing post-polymerization of swollen primary particles to impart mechanical rigidity.
- Characterizing particle porosity, pore size distribution, and fractal dimension.
Main Results:
- Successfully produced micrometer-sized, macroporous polymer microclusters without porogenic additives.
- Achieved internal porosity of approximately 70% with a broad pore size distribution (50 nm to 10 μm).
- Demonstrated that particles formed via reactive gelation under shear are fractal objects with a fractal dimension of ~2.7, distinct from monoliths (fractal dimension ~1.9).
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a new route to mechanically robust, macroporous polymer particles.
- The resulting microclusters possess large internal pores suitable for specific applications.
- These macroporous particles show promise for applications such as biomolecule chromatography and perfusion packing beds.
