Upon emulsification of a mixture of methyl methacrylate or methacrylic acid monomer, along with divinylbenzene crosslinker
and octane porogen into a glycerol suspension medium, brightly colored emulsions form. The bright colors of the emulsion originate
from an exact matching of the refractive index of the emulsion droplets with that of the glycerol medium only at certain wavelengths
of light – other wavelengths of light scatter. Polymerization of the brightly colored emulsions yields three different latex
morphologies depending upon the polymerization temperature and the type of emulsifier, monomer, initiator, or hydrocarbon
applied. The latex morphologies obtained range from large porous latex (1–10 µm in size) to medium-sized porous latex (0.1–1 µm
in size) to small latex (up to 0.1 µm in size).
Emulsion polymerization Porous latex Glycerol
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