Microcellular Polymeric Materials from Microemulsions: Control of Microstructure and Morphology

The effect of a crosslinking agent on the formation of porous solids by polymerizing microemulsions formulated with monomers was investigated. Phenomenological studies were carried out to evaluate the possibility of controlling the morphology of the porous polymeric materials by using precursor microemulsions having a distinct microstructure. A microemulsion system, containing methyl methacrylate (MMA), acrylic acid (AA), the crosslinking agent ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), water, and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as surfactant, was studied. An identical surfactant-free system, formed using the same monomers, crosslinking agent, and water, but without surfactant, was also studied. Microemulsion samples from both these systems, having a water in oil droplet microstructure and also samples exhibiting bicontinuous microstructural characteristics, were used as precursor systems for polymerization. The morphology of the polymeric solids obtained was examined using scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The results of this study indicate the possibility of forming porous polymeric solids having specifically tailored morphology and microstructure by the polymerization of monomer containing microemulsions. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc