Detecting Core-Shell Structure Formation Using near Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

It is well known that the final end-use properties of polymer resins depend on several variables. Among them, the morphological aspects of the polymer resin have received considerable attention over the last few years. Particularly, efforts have been devoted towards the study and production of core-shell polymer particles, which find many applications as supports; chromatographic packing among others. Recently, Lenzi et al.¹ developed a new process, that combines typical suspension and emulsion polymerisation recipes, to produce polystyrene core-shell particles. In this work, it is shown that NIR spectroscopy can be used as an alternative tool as an in-line system (for in situ detection) of the formation of the core-shell structure in polystyrene core-shell polymer particles produced during simultaneous suspension/emulsion polymerisations.