Fabrication of ABS/PC alloy hollow microspheres via water/oil/water emulsion solvent evaporation

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/Polycarbonate (ABS/PC) alloy hollow microspheres with weight ratios of ABS to PC being 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2 were successfully prepared by using water/oil/water (W/O/W) multiple emulsion solvent evaporation technique. SEM images showed that there were a big cavity and some small cavities inside the hollow microspheres and the microspheres with weight ratio of ABS to PC being 2:1 presented best morphology compared with the microspheres prepared at weight ratios of ABS and PC of 1:1 and 1:2. Thermal analysis showed that increasing PC content could improve the thermal stability of the hollow microspheres and the thermal degradation mechanism of the hollow microspheres became more complicated.