Utilising phase separation : the study of macromonomer stabilised colloids for thermal energy storage and thermoresponsive polymers for optical devices

This thesis encompasses the study of the effectiveness of ω-unsaturated macromonomers as reactive stabilisers in emulsion and miniemulsion polymerisation, the development of a nanocapsule dispersion with tuneable thermal regulation properties and the manufacture of a low-temperature warning system using bespoke polymer solutions. The common thread that weaves through this work is self-assembly and phase separation. Along this journey, several interesting observations and results have emerged. Many of which are explored in depth, new theories are presented and comparisons to published research are drawn. In chapter 2, amphiphilic, block copolymer, stabilisers are synthesised by a two-stage emulsion polymerisation process. The surprisingly broad size distribution of the macromonomer latex after the first step and evidence of secondary nucleation in the second step are investigated. The macromonomers are used as an aqueous dispersion of micelles to stabilise latexes with particles diameters