Initial growth process of polystyrene particle investigated by AFM

We carried out molecular-scale and in situ investigations of the initial growth process of polystyrene particles in soap-free polymerization, where a cationic initiator, V-50, was used to make the formed particles transfer onto the mica plate in sampling, using an atomic force microscope. It was found that the particles coagulated soon after the nucleation process. Such coagulation was estimated from a macroscopic research, however; microscopic evidence was not enough. This study verifies it from a microscopic view.

Graphical abstractCoagulation process in the initial stage of the growth process.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide