Preparation of monodisperse polymer particles by photopolymerization

Highly monodisperse polymer particles with diameters of 5 to 50 mu m were prepared by photopolymerization of aerosol droplets, consisting of multiacrylate monomers, with W-light radiation (wavelength approximate to 360 nm). The monomer droplets were generated by a vibrating-orifice droplet generator. The properties of the resulting particles (shape, size, size distribution, and surface characteristics) were measured by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The resulting particles were highly monodisperse with a coefficient of variation (ratio of the standard deviation of the particles to the mean particle diameter) of 1% or less. AU particles were spherical with smooth surfaces. (C) 1996 Academic Press,Inc.