Claims
- 1. A process for forming a plurality of particles, comprising the steps of:(A) providing a first emulsion comprising a core material and one or more monomers in an aqueous phase, wherein at least one of the monomers is a crosslinking monomer containing two or more double bonds capable of free radical polymerization, and a second emulsion comprising seed particles; (B) combining the first emulsion and the second emulsion; (C) forming discrete domains, in the aqueous phase, wherein the domains comprise the core material and the one or more monomers, and (D) polymerizing the one or more monomers by free radical polymerization to form a plurality of particles, each particle comprising a discrete crosslinked polymer shell encasing the core material, wherein the plurality of particles have a polydispersity of from 1.3 to 1.0.
- 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the core material comprises liquid crystal material.
- 3. The process of claim 1, wherein at least one transport agent is added prior to step (C).
- 4. The process of claim 1, further comprising forming at least one additional polymer shell on the crosslinked polymer shell encasing the core material.
- 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the core material is an operationally nematic liquid crystal.
- 6. A process for forming a plurality of particles, comprising the steps of:(A) providing a first emulsion comprising a core material in an aqueous phase and a second emulsion comprising seed particles; (B) combining the first emulsion and the second emulsion; (C) forming discrete domains, in the aqueous phase, wherein the domains comprise the core material and the seed particles; (D) adding one or more monomers to the discrete domains, wherein at least one of the monomers is a crosslinking monomer containing two or more double bonds capable of free radical polymerization; (E) polymerizing the one or more monomers by free radical polymerization to form a plurality of particles, each particle comprising a discrete crosslinked polymer shell encasing the core material, wherein the plurality of particles have a polydispersity of from 1.3 to 1.0.
- 7. The process of claim 6, wherein the core material is liquid crystal material.
- 8. The process of claim 6, wherein at least one transport agent is added prior to step (C).
- 9. The process of claim 8, wherein at least one transport agent is removed after the forming of the discrete domains.
- 10. The process of claim 6, further comprising forming at least one additional polymer shell on the crosslinked polymer shell encasing the core material.
- 11. The process of claim 6, wherein the core material is an operationally nematic liquid crystal.
- 12. A process for forming a plurality of particles, comprising the steps of:(A) providing (i) a first emulsion comprising a core material in an aqueous phase, (ii) a second emulsion comprising seed particles; and (iii) one or more monomers, wherein at least one of the monomers is a crosslinking monomer containing two or more double bonds capable of free radical polymerization; (B) combining the first emulsion, the second emulsion, and the one or more monomers; (C) forming discrete domains, in the aqueous phase, wherein the domains comprise the core material, the seed particles and the one or more monomers; (D) polymerizing the one or more monomers by free radical polymerization to form a plurality of particles, each particle comprising a discrete crosslinked polymer shell encasing the core material, wherein the plurality of particles have a polydispersity of from 1.3 to 1.0.
- 13. The process of claim 12, wherein the core material is a liquid crystal.
- 14. The process of claim 12, wherein the core material is an operationally nematic liquid crystal.
Parent Case Info
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/179,005, filed Oct. 26, 1998 now abandoned, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/064,623, filed Nov. 7, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Foreign Referenced Citations (11)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2209630 |
Nov 1995 |
CA |
2208509 |
Dec 1995 |
CA |
2209685 |
Jan 1996 |
CA |
0 198 089 |
Oct 1986 |
EP |
0 457 154 |
Nov 1991 |
EP |
0 769 544 |
Apr 1997 |
EP |
07-196747 |
Aug 1995 |
JP |
07-261163 |
Oct 1995 |
JP |
09111000 |
Apr 1997 |
JP |
WO 9511265 |
Apr 1995 |
WO |
WO 9613561 |
May 1996 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (5)
Entry |
“Preparation of Nonspherical, Monodisperse Polymer Particles and Their Self-Organization”; Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 113, No. 2, Oct. 1986; pp. 577-582. |
“Swelling of Oligomer-Polymer Particles. New Methods of Preparation of Emulsions and Polymer Dispersions”, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 13 (1980) pp. 101-140. |
“New Developments in Production and Application of Monosized Polymer Particles”; Polymer Material Science and Engineering, 1986; 54. |
Abstract—XP-002107787; “Monodisperse Polymeric Particles with Liquid Crystalline Cores”, R. R. Clikeman, M. C. Wills and R.E. Wargo; AM-LCD 96; Digest of Technical Papers; pp. 169-172. |
European Search Report—EP 98 30 8889 dated Jul. 1, 1999. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/064623 |
Nov 1997 |
US |