EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE ON THE FILMING PROCESS OF POLYSTYRENE LATEX STUDIED BY AFM

The film formation process of micro-PS particles (diameter 742 nm) and nano-PS particles (diameter 29 nm) was studied by atomic force microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. During a step heating process, the particles were annealed for 0.5 h at each selected temperature. It was found that the deformation and interdiffusion temperatures of the micro-PS particles are ca. 120-130degreesC and 140-150degreesC, that of the nano-PS particles are 90degreesC and 100-110degreesC respectively. The DSC traces of nano-PS particles showed that there was an exothermic peak near T-g after annealing for 0.5 h at the selected temperatures below 90degreesC; otherwise, the exothermic peak disappeared after annealing at 100degreesC or above. Compared with the micro-PS particles, the sintering process of nano-PS particles occurs at much lower temperature determined by the confined state of polymer chains with higher conformational energy in nano-particles, and completes in a much narrower temperature range driven mainly by the larger total surface energy.

Effect of Polymer Matrix on Temperature Sensitivity of Temperature Sensitive Paints

The thermal quenching behaviors of the temperature sensitivity paints （TSP） composed of europium（III） thenoyltrifluoroacetonate （EuTTA） and Eu-phenanthrene complex （Eu-2） in polystyrene （PS）, polymethylmethacrylate （PMMA） and epoxy resin （EP） were investigated. It is found that both the emission intensity and temperature sensitivity were not only affected by the luminescence probes, but also by the polymer matrix. The interaction between probes and matrix results in the alteration of both the non-radiation decay rate and the activation energy of the non-radiative process for the thermal quenching process, i.e. larger activation energy of the non-radiative process shows higher temperature sensitivity and less emission intensity. Therefore, it was confirmed that the temperature sensitivity and luminescent intensity of TSP depended not only on the luminescence probes but also on the polymer matrix.

Responsive Composite Janus Cages

pH responsive composite Janus cages of PS-silica-PEO are prepared using silica nanoparticles to crosslink two PAA contained di-block copolymers at an emulsion interface sequentially. Transverse channels are in situ created across the shell, which facilitates mass transfer. Shell is pH responsive owing to the presence of residual PAA chains tethered onto the silica nanoparticles. The Janus cages are capable to preferentially capture oil from their aqueous surroundings. The saturation absorption capacity is determined by pH and oil property. Other composite Janus cages are expected by extension the method using other copolymers and functional nanoparticles.

Polymer/Metal Segmental Janus Nanoparticles

Polymer/metal composite segmental Janus nanoparticles （NPs） are synthesized by sequential growth against poly（4-vinylpyridine） （P4VP） crosslinked cP4VP-PS Janus NPs. A Janus cluster of poly（4-vinylpyridine）-block-polystyrene （P4VP-b-PS） diblock copolymer is self-organized after absorption onto a silica patchy sphere via hydrogen bonding. Selective crosslinking of P4VP leads to the formation of robust cP4VP-PS Janus NPs. Within the cP4VP domain, functional species such as metals are preferentially grown by in situ reduction. Other thiol-capped polymers, for example, thiol-capped poly（N-isopropylacrylamide） （PNIPAM-SH）, can be conjugated onto the opposite side to form polymer/metal triple segmental Janus NPs. The hyperthermia effect ofAu NP of PNIPAM-Au@cP4VP-PS by near infrared （NIR） irradiation can trigger a fast transition from amphiphilic to hydrophobic of the Janus NPs at low surrounding temperature. De-stabilization of the emulsion is NIR triggered although the system temperature is below LCST （-32 ℃）.

One-dimensional Janus Polymeric Vehicles

We herein report a novel approach to fabricate poly（DVB-co-VBC） one-dimentional nanomaterials with varied composition. By adjusting the monomer DVB/VBC ratio and using inert solvents, after internal cavity of the nanotubes disappears and length of the nanotubes is decreased, thus nanorods are achieved. After quaternary ammoniation from the benzyl chloride group, the exterior surface becomes hydrophilic while the interiority preserves hydrophobic. The Janus nanorods can serve as a specific vehicle to selectively collect oils from their aqueous surroundings.

pH responsive Janus polymeric nanosheets

pH responsive polymeric Janus nanosheets with poly（maleic acid） moiety and crosslinked PS onto the corresponding sides have been synthesized by free radical polymerization. The Janus nanosheets can serve as solid emulsifier to stabilize an oil/water emulsion, whose stability is easily triggered by changing pH across pKa of the poly（maleic acid）.