Vesiculated polymer beads.

摘要

Vesiculated polymer beads are prepared in which a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion containing a cross-linkable polymer and a copolymerisable monomer in the oil phase is heated in the presence of an initiator to cure the polymer beads, wherein curing is commenced in a first stage in the presence of a substantially water-insoluble initiator and, when the beads are sufficiently stable, curing is completed in a second stage in the presence of an at least partially water-soluble initiator. Preferably, the completion of curing is carried out at a temperature higher than that of the first stage. The beads can be used in low odour paint formulations.