PREPARATION OF MONODISPERSE POLYSTYRENE MICROSPHERES BY MICROWAVE DISPERSION POLYMERIZATION

The dispersion polymerization of styrene was successfully carried out under microwave irradiation in the EtOH/H_2O medium, which PVP and AIBN were used as stabilizers and initiators respectively. The monodisperse polystyrene microspheres could be prepared in the range from 200 nm to 500 nm, and the morphology, size and size distribution of the polystyrene microspheres were characterized by TEM, AFM and PCS. The results indicate that polystyrene microspheres prepared by microwave irradiation are much smaller and more uniformed than those obtained by conventional heating.