Hydrophobic dye/polymer composite colorants synthesized by miniemulsion solvent evaporation technique

•Nanosized dye/polymer composite colorants were synthesized using a combined miniemulsion and solvent evaporation technique.•We examine the effect of the formulation variables on the size and morphology of the produced nanoparticles.•The efficiency of encapsulation of the solvent dye in the polymer matrix was >90%.•The manufactured composite colorant nanoparticles could be homogeneously dispersed in aqueous media.•The produced composite colorant exhibits high light fastness, water-fastness, and storage stability.

In the present study, the combined miniemulsion and solvent evaporation (MESE) method was employed to encapsulate solvent black B (SOB) dye in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to produce dye/polymer composite colorants. Using dynamic light scattering tests, the effect of the formulation variables on the size and size distribution of the prepared nanoparticles was examined. Transmission electron microscopy, UV–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and elemental analysis results indicate that SOB was successfully encapsulated in the PMMA matrix using the MESE method. The resulting composite colorant could be dispersed in water. It also exhibited high light fastness and water-fastness.