Highly crosslinked poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres prepared by precipitation polymerization: Effects of the polymerization parameters on the characteristics of the particles

Highly crosslinked poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres with a 1.0–2.5‐μm diameter were prepared by precipitation polymerization in neat acetonitrile. The effects of various polymerization parameters such as the monomer and initiator concentration, comonomer composition, and cosolvents on the properties of the resulting particles were studied. The particle diameter increased with the monomer concentration, whereas the particle size distribution remained almost constant. The resulting yield of the particles reached 41.1% when 6 wt % 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (based on the total monomer) was used as the initiator. The styrene fraction in the monomer composition and toluene fraction in the solvent mixture also significantly affected the morphology and size of the resulting particles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Preparation of poly(divinylbenzene‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) microspheres and their hydrogen‐bonding assembly behavior for raspberry‐like core‐corona polymer composite

Narrowdisperse poly(divinylbenzene‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) (poly(DVB‐co‐NIPAM)) functional microspheres with the diameter in the range of 630 nm and 2.58 μm were prepared by distillation–precipitation polymerization in neat acetonitrile in the absence of any stabilizer. The effect of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) ratio in the comonomer feed on the morphology of the resultant polymer particles was investigated in detail with divinylbenzene (DVB) as crosslinker and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The monodisperse poly(DVB‐co‐NIPAM) microspheres with NIPAM fraction of 20 wt % were selected for the preparation of raspberry‐like core‐corona polymer composite by the hydrogen‐bonding self‐assembly heterocoagulation with poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate‐co‐acrylic acid) [poly(EGDMA‐co‐AA)] nanospheres. Both of the functional poly(DVB‐co‐NIPAM) microspheres and the core‐corona particles were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and elemental analysis (EA). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1350–1357, 2007     

Dispersion polymerization of uniform cross‐linked polystyrene microspheres in butan‐1‐ol

Butan‐1‐ol can be used as the solvent in the synthesis of poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene‐co‐acrylic acid) microspheres by dispersion polymerization of a mixture of styrene, divinylbenzene (DVB), and acrylic acid (AA). Varying the proportion of the crosslinker DVB affects the size distribution and particle morphology profoundly, with 0.5–1.0% w/w producing spherical particles, whereas 2.0% w/w DVB produces irregular, concave morphologies. Varying the amount of AA from 5–7% w/w increases the average diameter of the spherical particles, whereas 9% w/w AA results in ovoid particles with dimpled surface morphology. In an optimized synthesis using 1.0% w/w DVB and 5% AA, uniform polymer microspheres with an average diameter of 0.8 µm and a coefficient of variation (CV) of diameter of 8.2% are produced. The use of a medium‐polarity solvent, such as butan‐1‐ol, as the solvent for dispersion polymerization will facilitate the incorporation of non‐polar moieties, such as organically‐passivated quantum dots, into the polymer during synthesis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43103.     

Preparation of narrow‐disperse or monodisperse poly{[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐co‐(acrylic acid)} microspheres with ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker by distillation precipitation polymerization

Narrow‐disperse or monodisperse poly{[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐co‐(acrylic acid)} (poly(PEGMA‐co‐AA)) microspheres were prepared by distillation precipitation polymerization with ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator in neat acetonitrile in the absence of any stabilizer, without stirring. The diameters of the resultant poly(PEGMA‐co‐AA‐co‐EGDMA) microspheres were in the range 200–700 nm with a polydispersity index of 1.01–1.14, which depended on the comonomer feed of the polymerization. The addition of the hydrogen bonding monomer acrylic acid played an essential role in the formation of narrow‐disperse or monodisperse polymer microspheres during the polymerization. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of narrow‐dispersion or monodisperse polymer microspheres with active hydroxyl group by distillation–precipitation polymerization

Narrow‐dispersion or monodisperse polymer microspheres with active hydroxyl groups were prepared by distillation–precipitation polymerization in the absence of any stabilizer. The monomer hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was copolymerized with either commercial divinylbenzene (DVB) (containing 80 % of DVB isomers) or ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker by distillation–precipitation polymerization technique with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator in neat acetonitrile. The effects of the crosslinker and the crosslinking degree on the morphology and the loading of the active hydroxyl group of the resultant microspheres were investigated. The agitation caused by distilling off a portion of the polymerization solvent during the polymerization avoided coagulation and resulted in the narrow‐dispersion or monodisperse polymer microspheres for the distillation precipitation technique. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of seed polymer molecular weight on polymerization kinetics and particle morphology of structured styrene–butadiene latexes

Heterogeneous film‐forming latexes were prepared using two‐stage, seeded emulsion polymerization. The polymerization was performed in a calorimetric reactor with a control unit that monitored the reaction rate and controlled the charging rate of the monomers. Three types of styrene seed latexes were prepared at 70°C. The first was an unmodified polystyrene (PS) latex. The second had the molecular weight lowered by the use of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) as a chain‐transfer agent, added at the start of the polymerization. For the third one, divinylbenzene (DVB) was used as a comonomer. DVB was added under starved conditions near the end of the polymerization to achieve crosslinked particle shells and to introduce double bonds as possible grafting sites. The second polymerization step was performed at 80°C as a batch operation in a 200‐mL calorimeter reactor. The second‐stage polymer was poly(styrene‐co‐butadiene‐co‐methacrylic acid) (S/B/MAA). A fixed S/B ratio was used together with varying small amounts of MAA. Particle morphology and particle‐size distributions were examined after the second stage using TEM after staining with osmium tetroxide. The particle morphology was found to depend on both the seed composition and the amount of MAA used in the second stage. Molecular weight and crosslinking of the DVB‐containing seed influenced the internal particle viscosity, which gave differences in the polymerization rate and the particle morphology. Crosslinking of the second‐stage polymer decreased the monomer concentration in the particles, which could be detected as a change in the slope the pressure/conversion curve. This phenomenon was used to indicate the critical conversion for crosslinking of the second‐stage polymer. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 297–311, 2000     

Preparation of monodisperse fluorescent core–shell polymer microspheres with functional groups in the shell layer by two‐stage distillation–precipitation polymerization

Monodisperse crosslinked core–shell micrometer‐sized microspheres bearing a brightly blue fluorescent dye, carbazole, and containing various functional groups in the shell layers were prepared by a two‐stage distillation–precipitation polymerization in acetonitrile in the absence of any stabilizer. Commercial divinylbenzene (DVB), containing 80 vol.% of DVB, was polymerized by distillation–precipitation in acetonitrile without any stabilizer using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator for the first stage of polymerization which resulted in monodisperse polyDVB microspheres used as the core. Several functional monomers, including 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile together with N‐vinylcarbazole blue fluorescent comonomer, were incorporated into the shell layers with AIBN as initiator during the second stage of polymerization. The resultant core–shell polymer microspheres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV‐visible spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

单分散多孔聚合物微球的制备及其反相色谱应用

用分散聚合的方法制得单分散微米级聚苯乙烯微球(PS),以此聚苯乙烯微球作为种子,以邻苯二甲酸二丁酯为溶胀剂,苯乙烯为单体,二乙烯基苯为交联剂,甲苯为致孔剂,采用种子溶胀聚合的方法制得粒径分布较窄的多孔高交联的聚苯乙烯-二乙烯基苯微球(PS-DVB)。研究了交联剂与致孔剂的加入量对微球形貌、粒径及孔结构参数的影响。结果表明,所得多孔微球球形圆整,库尔特测得平均粒径为5.067~5.520μm,粒径分布窄,D90/D10为1.23~1.56,孔结构可控,并以此多孔微球作为反相色谱填料基质,理论塔板数每米可达6 000~15 000,可以用作高效液相色谱(HPLC)填料。     

Preparation and characterization of imidazole‐functionalized microspheres

The preparation of imidazole‐functionalized latex microspheres by a two‐stage emulsion copolymerization process and their characterization are reported on. Emulsifier‐free emulsion copolymerization of styrene (St) and 1‐vinyl imidazole (VIMZ) exhibited bimodal particle size distributions caused by secondary homogeneous nucleation process. However, secondary nucleation can be avoided by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a stabilizer at a concentration below its cmc (critical micelle concentration). This would result in the formation of monodisperse latex particles. The final particle size diameter depended on the concentration of CTAB as well as the amount of VIMZ. To control the amount of the functional imidazole groups on the latex particle surfaces, independent of the latex diameters, without secondary nucleation of particles, the seeded emulsion copolymerization of styrene and VIMZ was explored as a second‐stage polymerization at different concentrations and ratios of monomers in the presence of the previously prepared monodisperse poly(styrene‐co‐1‐vinyl imidazole) seed latex particles. The concentration of imidazole functional groups on the surface of the latex particles could also be varied through the rearrangement of hydrophilic imidazole groups by varying the second‐stage monomer addition process such as the utilization of monomer‐swollen seed particles or a shot addition of monomers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120:5753–5762, 2006     

Study on synthesis and morphology control of poly(4‐vinylpyridine‐co‐butyl acrylate)/poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) composite microspheres

Monodispersed crosslinked cationic poly(4‐vinylpyridine‐co‐butyl acrylate) [P(4VP‐BA)] seed latexes were prepared by soapless emulsion polymerization, using 2,2′‐azobismethyl(propionamidine)dihydrochloride (V₅₀) as an initiator and divinylbenzene (DVB) or ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker. The optimum condition to obtain monodispersed stable latex was investigated. It was found that the colloidal stability of the P4VP latex can be improved by adding an adequate amount of BA (BA/4VP = 1/4, w/w), and adopting a semicontinuous monomer feed mode. Subsequently, poly(4‐vinylpyridine‐co‐butyl acrylate)/Poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) [P(4VP‐BA)/P(ST‐BA)] composite microspheres were synthesized by seeded polymerization, using the above latex as a seed and a mixture of ST and BA as the second‐stage monomers. The effects of the type of crosslinker, the degree of crosslinking, and the initiators (AIBN and V₅₀) on the morphology of final composite particles are discussed in detail. It was found that P(4VP‐BA)/P(ST‐BA) composite microspheres were always surrounded by a PST‐rich shell when V₅₀ was used as initiator, while sandwich‐like or popcorn‐like composite particles were produced when AIBN was employed. This is because the polarity of the polymer chains with AIBN fragments is lower than for the polymer with V₅₀ fragments, hence leading to higher interfacial tension between the second‐stage PST‐rich polymer and the aqueous phase, and between PST‐rich polymer and P4VP‐rich seed polymer. As a result, the seed cannot be engulfed by the PST‐rich polymer. Furthermore, the decrease of T_g of the second‐stage polymer promoted phase separation between the seeds and the PST‐rich polymer: sandwich‐like particles formed more preferably than popcorn‐like particles. It is important knowledge that various morphologies different from PST‐rich core/P4VP‐rich shell morphology, can be obtained only by changing the initiator, considering P4VP is much more hydrophilic than PST. The zeta potential of composite particles initiated by AIBN in seeded polymerization shifted from a positive to a negative charge. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1190–1203, 2002     

Monodisperse plum‐like sulfonated PGMA‐DVB microspheres as a new ion exchange resin

Monodisperse plum‐like crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐divinyl benzene) (PGMA‐DVB) microspheres were prepared by dispersion polymerization using glycidyl acrylate as monomer and divinyl benzene as crosslinking agent, and then sulfonated by sulfonation process with phosphorus pentoxide to increase the grafting ratio. The morphology and composition of microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays (SEM‐EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and BET surface area analyses. The average sizes of PGMA microspheres and PGMA‐DVB microspheres were 2.18 and 2.52 μm, respectively. The effect of DVB content on the properties of microspheres was investigated and the experimental results indicate that the microspheres prepared with DVB content have crinkled surface with large specific surface area, and with the increase of the DVB content, the average size of the microspheres become larger and the particle size distribution become wider. The as‐prepared sulfonated PGMA‐DVB microspheres were used to remove the copper (II) ion in solution and the maximum adsorption capacity was 75.08 mg/g. This work provides an effective but simple method for a controllable preparation of polymer microspheres with rough surface and high specific surface area, and it could be a new kind of ion exchange resin after sulfonation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44994.     

Synthesis and characterization of reinforced acrylic‐based superabsorbents crosslinked with divinylbenzene

A series of superabsorbent polymers were synthesized by an inverse suspension polymerization, with potassium persulfate as the initiator, Span60 as the dispersant, and N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide (BIS) and divinylbenzene (DVB) as multiple crosslinkers. The synthesis conditions, including the amount of dispersant, concentration of crosslinkers, oil‐to‐water phase ratio (O/W) of the polymerization system, total monomer concentration, and acrylamide (AM) content were studied. The results indicated that there were optima for the following properties: BIS crosslinker concentration (0.075 wt %), O/W (3 : 1), total monomer concentration (37.5 wt %), and AM content (5 wt %). In addition, the particle size had a significant influence on the absorption speed, and the absorption speed increased with decreasing particle size. In comparison with the conventional sample crosslinked only by BIS, the superabsorbent with the same particle size but crosslinked by multiple crosslinkers had the higher absorption rate because of surface crosslinking. It also showed that the salt resistance and antihydrolyzing property of the superabsorbent crosslinked by multiple crosslinkers (BIS and DVB) were enhanced, which was also attributed to surface crosslinking by DVB. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 1594–1600, 2006     

Highly crosslinked micron‐sized,monodispersed polystyrene particles by batch dispersion polymerization,Part 1: Batch,delayed addition,and seeded batch processes

The seeded batch dispersion polymerization with or without monomer absorption was compared with the batch polymerization and delayed addition by batch polymerization, to prepare the highly crosslinked, monodispersed polystyrene (PS) particles. The seeded batch polymerization was carried out under the variation of styrene (in second stage)/styrene (in PS seed) (St/St) ratio, divinylbenzene (DVB) concentration, and polymerization temperature using 1.9‐μm monodispersed PS seed particles. The experimental results imply that the seeded batch process is more efficient method that could avoid the sensitive particle nucleation step in the presence of the crosslinker than the batch and delayed addition processes. Without monomer absorption, 2.3‐μm uniform crosslinked PS particles with 7 wt % of the DVB were prepared in 1/1 (St/St) ratio. In comparison, with the monomer absorption, monodispersed and smooth‐surfaced PS particles containing 20 wt % of the DVB were formed. A total of 5% weight loss of the crosslinked PS particles determined by TGA occurred from 353.8 to 374.8°C, and the degree of swellability in toluene decreased from 150 to 104.5% with increasing the DVB concentration from 5 to 20 wt % because of the increase of the crosslink density of the particles. The seeded polymerization, especially through monomer absorption procedure, is a novel way to obtain highly crosslinked, monodispersed PS particles. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis of poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) microspheres via dispersion polymerization: Effect of the concentration of 4‐vinylpyridine

Amphiphilic copolymer microspheres of poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) were prepared by dispersion polymerization in an alcohol/water medium. The synthesis of poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) microparticles was successfully carried out, and the latexes had a spherical morphology with good monodispersity. The degree of conversion in the early stage of polymerization decreased with increasing 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) monomer content, but the final conversions were similar (>95%). The copolymerization rate decreased with increasing 4VP content, and a broad particle size distribution was observed with 20 wt % 4VP because of the prolonged nucleation time. With the 4VP concentration increasing, the molecular weight of the copolymer microspheres decreased, and the glass‐transition temperature of the copolymers increased; this indicated that all the copolymers were random and homogeneous. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Preparation of polystyrene/poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] fluorescent microspheres by miniemulsion polymerization

Fluorescent microspheres have great potential for use as probes in biological diagnostics. In this context, poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV), a conjugated polymer which has high quantum yield, controllable emitting wavelength and facile processing in manufacture, was used as a fluorescent material for the preparation of polystyrene (PS)/MEH‐PPV fluorescent microspheres via miniemulsion polymerization. We demonstrate that the emitting wavelength of the PS/MEH‐PPV fluorescent microspheres can be regulated by changing the amount of azobisisobutyronitrile initiator in the polymerization process. Using acrylic acid comonomer, poly[styrene‐co‐(acrylic acid)]/MEH‐PPV fluorescent microspheres with functional carboxyl groups were also prepared. All the microspheres were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence spectrophotometry. The functional carboxyl groups were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This work provides a novel platform for the preparation of conjugated polymer fluorescent microspheres for biological applications. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Monodisperse‐porous N‐methyl‐D‐glucamine functionalized poly(vinylbenzyl chloride‐co‐divinylbenzene) beads as boron selective sorbent

To generate a new sorbent with high boron adsorption capacity, we synthesized monodisperse‐porous poly(vinylbenzyl chloride‐co‐divinylbenzene), poly(VBC‐co‐DVB), beads 8.5 μm in size by a new “modified seeded polymerization” technique. By using their chloromethyl functionality, the beads were derivatized by a simple, direct reaction with a boron‐selective ligand, N‐methyl‐D ‐glucamine (NMDG). The selection of poly(VBC‐co‐DVB) beads as a starting material allowed to obtain high boron sensitive‐ligand density on the beads depending on their high chloromethyl content. In the batch adsorption runs performed using NMDG‐attached poly(VBC‐co‐DVB) beads as sorbent, boron removal was efficiently performed in a wide pH range between 4 and 11. Quantitative boron removal was observed with the sorbent concentration of 4 g/L. In the same runs, plateau value of equilibrium adsorption isotherm was obtained as 14 mg boron/g beads. Relatively higher boron adsorption was explained by high ligand density and high specific surface area of the sorbent. Boron adsorption isotherms were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich models. In the kinetic runs performed for boron removal, the equilibrium was attained within 10 min at a value of 98%. The fast kinetic behavior was explained by the smaller particle size and enhanced porosity of the new sorbent. Infinite solution volume model and unreacted core model were used to evaluate boron adsorption onto the NMDG‐attached poly(VBC‐co‐DVB) beads. The results indicated that the adsorption process is controlled by the particle‐diffusion step. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Synthesis of monodisperse crosslinked polystyrene microspheres via dispersion copolymerization with the crosslinker‐postaddition method

Monodisperse crosslinked polystyrene microspheres were prepared by the dispersion copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene in a mixed solvent of ethanol and H₂O. 2,2′‐Azobisisobutyronitrile and poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) were used as the initiator and steric stabilizer, respectively. The crosslinker‐postaddition method was adopted through a slow addition of a crosslinking agent into the dispersion system at a certain time after the beginning of the polymerization. The effects of the postaddition recipe, postaddition beginning time, postaddition velocity, and agitation rate on the particle size, size distribution, and morphology were discussed. The resulting polymer microspheres were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and laser particle analysis. Crosslinked polystyrene microspheres with a narrow size distribution and a 12.0% crosslinker level were obtained with a size of 1.0 μm through the crosslinker‐postaddition method. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

微米级单分散聚苯乙烯微球的制备

以苯乙烯(St)为单体、偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)为引发剂、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)为分散稳定剂,在乙醇-水反应介质中,采用分散聚合法制备了微米级单分散聚苯乙烯(PS)微球。分别用电镜扫描和激光粒度仪表征了PS微球表面形貌、粒径及粒度分布,探讨了影响PS微球粒径及粒度分布的诸多因素。结果表明,AIBN用量(以单体质量计,下同)大于5.0%或PVP用量(以单体质量计,下同)小于2%时,PS粒子间有聚并现象;当St浓度为10%、AIBN用量为2.5%、PVP用量为5.5%、醇水质量比为90∶10、聚合温度为70℃时,制备的PS微球粒径为1.612μm、粒度分散系数为0.357,微球单分散性及球形度最佳。     

Polymer–metal composite particles: Metal particles on poly(St‐co‐MAA) microspheres

Poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylic acid) P(St‐co‐MAA) microspheres with a monodisperse size distribution were prepared by emulsifier‐free emulsion copolymerization of St and MAA. The effects of MAA content on the polymerization rate and the content of MAA in the copolymer were investigated by gravimetrical and IR methods, respectively. The results of XPS measurement indicated the presence of a carboxyl functional group. By chemical metal deposition, nickel or palladium particles were formed and deposited on the surface of P(St‐co‐MAA) microspheres to form P(St‐co‐MAA)Ni or P(St‐co‐MAA)Pd composite particles. XRD measurement and TEM observation confirmed that nickel and palladium metal particles in a small size (20–40 nm) were distributed on surface of the copolymer microspheres. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 1693–1698, 2000     

Synthesis of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐divinylbenzene‐co‐vinylbenzyl chloride)‐derived hypercrosslinked polymer microspheres and a preliminary evaluation of their potential for the solid‐phase capture of pharmaceuticals

Poly[acrylonitrile (AN)‐co‐divinylbenzene (DVB)‐co‐vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC)] terpolymers were synthesized by precipitation polymerization in the form of porous polymer microspheres. The poly(AN‐co‐DVB‐co‐VBC) polymers were then hypercrosslinked, via a Friedel‐Crafts reaction with FeCl₃ in nitrobenzene, to provide a significant uplift in the specific surface areas of the polymers. FTIR spectra of the hypercrosslinked poly(AN‐co‐DVB‐co‐VBC)s showed that the chloromethyl groups derived from VBC were consumed by the Friedel‐Crafts reactions, which was consistent with successful hypercrosslinking. Hypercrosslinking installed a number of new, small pores into the polymers, as evidenced by a dramatic increase in the specific surface areas upon hypercrosslinking (from ～530 to 1080 m² g^?1). The hypercrosslinked polymers are very interesting for a range of applications, not least of all for solid‐phase extraction (SPE) work, where the convenient physical form of the polymers (beaded format), their low mean particle diameters, and narrow particle size distributions, as well as their high specific surface areas and polar character (arising from the AN residues), make them attractive candidates as SPE sorbents. In this regard, in a preliminary study one of the hypercrosslinked polymers was utilized as an SPE sorbent for the capture of the polar pharmaceutical diclofenac from a polar environment. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45677.