Continuous production of functionalized polymer particles employing the phase separation in polymer blend films

This study reports a continuous prepartion of spherical or hemispherical polymer particles simply utilizing the phase separation in polymer blend films during the coating process. We took an advantage of the strong phase separation between a water-soluble crystalline polymer as a matrix and hydrophobic polymers as minor components. We demonstrated the prepartion of water-soluble polystyrene (PS) particles, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-functionalized PS particles for protein separation, and semiconducting poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) particles. The sizes of the particles could be controlled by adjusting the film thickness and weight fraction of the minor component polymers in the blend film. It provides a simple facile way to prepare polymer particles in a continous process. A novel simple way to produce spherical or hemispherical polymer particles is proposed. We utilized the phase separation in polymer blends consitsting of a water-soluble crystalline polymer as a matrix and hydrophobic polymers as minor components. The crystallization-induced phase separation during the drying process led to isolated functional particles. Functional PS and P3HT are shown as examples.