A METHOD FOR PREPARING HOLLOW LATEXES

摘要

The present invention provides for a process for preparing hollow polymer latexes. A first charge of a organic phase is introduced to an aqueous phase. The first charge of the organic phase comprises monomer, which is virtually insoluble in the aqueous phase, and an inert-nonpolymerizable hydrocarbon. The polymer formed from polymerizing the monomer is virtually insoluble in the hydrocarbon, the hydrocarbon is virtually insoluble in the aqueous phase and the monomer is miscible with the hydrocarbon. The monomer is polymerized to produce a low molecular weight polymer which phase separates from the organic phase and concentrates at the surface of the organic phase forming a low molecular weight polymer phase. A second charge of the organic phase is then introduced to the aqueous phase when the low molecular weight polymer reaches a conversion of monomer to polymer of equal to or less than 80 percent, wherein the second charge of the organic phase comprises a crosslinking monomer and wherein the crosslinking monomer is imbibed in the low molecular weight polymer phase. Further polymerization produces a hollow polymer latex particle.