Dispersion polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole using siloxane-based and fluorine-based surfactants in compressed liquid dimethyl ether

Spherical poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) was synthesized by dispersion polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole (NVCA) in compressed liquid dimethyl ether (DME) using siloxane-based (PDMS-g-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) (Monasil PCA™) and fluorine-based (poly(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate)) (poly(HDFDMA)) polymers as surfactants and 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. Spherical and relatively uniform PVK particles can be produced even at 20 bar.