Abstract
The copolymerization of two pairs of tetra-functional monomers, viz. bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-acryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl] sulphide with divinylbenzene and bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl] sulphide with glycidyl methacrylate, was used for the synthesis of highly cross-linked porous microspheres in the presence of the pore-forming diluents, decan-1-ol and toluene. The porous structures of the obtained microspheres in the dry state (from nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements) and the swollen state (via inverse size exclusion chromatography) were investigated and compared with those of the bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl] sulphide and divinylbenzene copolymers studied previously. The swelling properties of the obtained copolymers as well as their thermal properties as studied by DSC and TG analyses were discussed in detail. The texture of the obtained microspheres was visualized by AFM analysis.