Surface functionalization of polymer latex particles. III. A convenient method of producing ultrafine poly(methylstyrene) latexes with aldehyde groups on the surface

A convenient method of preparing ultrafine poly(methylstyrene) (PMS) latex particles with aldehyde groups on the surface is developed. PMS latexes in the size range 33-81 nm were prepared via microemulsion polymerization, using cetyltri-methylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant. The surface of the PMS latexes was oxidized in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by copper(II) chloride. As the degree of oxidation increased up to 6 h, the amounts of aldehyde group increased. Bigger particles were found to have a slightly higher rate of oxidation than small ones under the same oxidation conditions. The particle size underwent little change during oxidation; thus, the amounts of functional groups and the particle size could be controlled concurrently. Dialysis study of the oxidized PMS microlatexes indicated that the instability of highly oxidized PMS microlatexes was caused by the reduction of total surface charge density due to the presence of carboxylic acid groups.