AFM Observation of Growing Poly Isobutyl Methacrylate (PiBMA) Particles

The growth process of poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA) particle prepared in soap-free polymerization using V-50 as an initiator was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) to clarify the growth mechanism. As a result, it was found that PiBMA particles were capable of growing by the adhesion of smaller particles, which generated freshly during the particle growth period, to their surfaces.