Single stage polymerization technique for producing micron-sized, highly monodisperse polystyrene particles in aqueous media

A simple technique was developed to produce micron-sized, highly monodisperse polystyrene particles in single stage polymerization in aqueous media. Polymerization was carried out in a reaction system of styrene/K₂S₂O₈/water, to which an amphoteric surfactant, dimethyldodecylbetaine, was added at different reaction times. This polymerization procedure could produce particles with an average diameter of 2 μm and a coefficient of variation of particle size distribution of 3.4%, which is much smaller than the typical monodispersity criterion of 10%.