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Preparation of raspberry-like PMMA/SiO2 nanocomposite particles

Water-borne raspberry-like PMMA/SiO2 nanocom-posite particles were prepared via free radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with 1-vinylimidazole (1-VID) in the presence of ultrafine aqueous silica sols. The acid-base interaction between hydroxyl groups (acidic) of silica surfaces and amino groups (basic) of 1-VID was strong enough for promoting the formation of long-standing stable PMMA/SiO2 nanocomposite particles when 10 mol% or more 1-VID as auxiliary monomer was used. The average particle sizes and the silica contents of the nanocomposite particles were in the ranges from 120–330 nm and 15%–20%, respectively. TEM and SEM observations indicated a raspberry-like morphology of the obtained nanocomposite particles.