Abstract
In recent years, polymer particles have received increasing interest in numerous applications, such as paints, adhesives, thermoplastics, textiles, papers, electric devices, and in vitro diagnostics. A variety of surface-modified particles have been prepared energetically with the development of heterophase radical polymerizations. Among them, emulsion polymerization-based techniques, including emulsion polymerization, emulsifi er-free emulsion polymerization, miniemulsion polymerization and so on, are by far the most commonly used processes to synthesize submicron-sized latex particles from the viewpoints of technical (easy-to-run operations, high monomer conversions, and wide variety of potential products) and economic (good productivity, inexpensive reagents, and relatively low investments) advantages. There have been a number of reports on preparation of functional particles with well-defi ned structures and surface reactive groups. This article reviews recent advances and developments of surface-functionalized latex particles by copolymerization with functional monomers available for emulsion polymerization. In addition, graft polymerizations from particle surfaces by controlled/living radical polymerization (atom transfer radical polymerization, reversible addition, fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, nitroxide-mediated polymerization, etc.) are also introduced.
