Synthesis of gel type dispersion polymers via living dispersion polymerization (LDP)

Abstract

A gel type disperse polystyrene/divinylbenzene (DVB) copolymer was successfully prepared in hydrocarbon via 'living dispersion polymerization (LDP)' method. Characterization of the dispersed polymers was performed by a combination of size-exclusion chromatographic and transmission electron microscopic analyses. Poly(t-butylstyryl)lithium with 3,5 x 10(4) g/mol of molecular weight was used as a steric stabilizing moiety in the living dispersion polymerization. The particle size of the dispersed polymers was able to be controlled by both the mole ratio of the concentration of poly(t-butylstyryl)lithium to n-butyllithium and the amount of monomer to over 2 mu m.