Polymer colloids for catalysis in fluorous media and for colloidal crystalline arrays

Scope and Method of Study. Monodisperse charged polymer colloids in aqueous and non-aqueous dispersions have potential applications as membranes and catalysts. We chose poly(ethylhexyl methacrylate) particles containing quaternary ammonium ions and poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer particles for the catalytic and colloidal crystalline filter fabrication applications. Micron sized poly(ethylhexyl methacrylate) (EHMA) cross-linked copolymers in fluorinated solvents were synthesized by dispersion polymerization using microwave heating for the catalytic applications. Sub-micron sized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) core-shell latexes in aqueous media were made by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization for colloidal crystal films (CCF) making.;Findings and Conclusions. Cationic EHMA copolymers slightly increased the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl hexanoate in fluorous media compared to the control experiment which lacked the polymer particles. PMMA CCF's fabricated by gravitational sedimentation method contained monodisperse FCC packed domains of 5-10 microm, point defects, and grain boundaries.