Swelling of Particles

H. Kaspar, K. Tauer, M. Antonietti

Polymer dispersions are able to take up liquids. This process goes along with a volume increase of the individual latex particles. A better understanding of the swelling of latex particles is important for at least two reasons. Firstly, tailoring of particle properties during the heterophase polymerization requires the knowledge of the monomer partition between the particles (locus of polymerization) and the dispersion medium especially for copolymerizations. Secondly, by the swelling process the particles can take up also valuable products as for instance drugs or insecticides thus open up a variety of new application areas for polymer particles as carriers.

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