Encapsulation of silica nanoparticles by polystyrene via differential microemulsion polymerization

Abstract

Nanosized silica was encapsulated by polystyrene via in situ differential microemulsion polymerization.
In this process, 2-2’-azoisobutyronitrile and sodium dodecyl sulfate were used as oil soluble initiator and
anionic surfactant, respectively. The weight ratio of surfactant/styrene monomer in this study was as low as
0.20. The yield of polystyrene was about 64%. The prepared hybrid particles were investigated for their
particle size and morphology. It is found that the particle size of the obtained nanocomposites was about 43 nm