Raspberry-like polymer composite particles via electrostatic heterocoagulation

Nano-sized poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate-co-sodium acrylate) (poly(EGDMA-co-AcNa)) particles were effectively self-assembled on poly(divinylbenzene-co-styrylmethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) (poly(DVB-co-StMTMACl)) surfaces to result in core–corona composite particles with a raspberry-like structure by an electrostatic interaction through an affinity complex between sodium acrylate and quaternary ammonium chloride group. The effect of salt electrolyte on the morphology of the raspberry-like polymer composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The zeta-potential (ξ) values of poly(DVB-co-StMTMACl) core, poly(EGDMA-co-AcNa) corona, and raspberry-like composite were determined by zeta-potential analyzer. The water static contact angle on the surfaces of polycarbonate (PC) film with micro–nano binary roughness originated from raspberry-like particles was investigated on a contact angle system.