Synthesis and characterization of reactive macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐triallyl isocyanurate‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) microspheres by suspension polymerization: Effect of synthesis variables on surface area and porosity

A novel macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐triallyl isocyanurate‐ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) copolymer, hereinafter P_{GMA‐TAIC‐EGDMA}, of controlled bead size was prepared via free radical suspension copolymerization. The effects of varying the concentration of crosslinking agents and porogenic diluent on the average pore diameter, pore size distributions, specific surface area, and pore volume of the copolymer matrix were thoroughly investigated. The spherical beads were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The specific pore volume, average pore diameter, pore size distribution, and the specific surface area were measured by Mercury intrusion porosimetry and BET adsorption method, respectively. The porous properties of the polymer matrix are a direct consequence of the amount and quality of the porogenic solvent, the percentage of crosslinking monomers, and the ratio between the monomers and porogen phases. When the polymer was prepared at 30 and 40% crosslinking density, and 75 and 100% diluents, respectively, it showed a fine beads morphology, mechanical stability and pore size distributions. By comparing the copolymers P_{GMA‐TAIC‐EGDMA} and P_GMA‐EGDMA, it was found that the former is more stable both thermally and mechanically than its predecessor. The presence of epoxide functionalities of macroporous P_{GMA‐TAIC‐EGDMA} beads makes it a versatile carrier. The resulting polymers have the potential for wide applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012