Properties of copper phthalocyanine microencapsulated in polystyrene by phase separation

Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) was microencapsulated by liquid phase separation in an organic solvent using a polystyrene (PS) wall. Experimental results show that the molecular weight of PS effects properties of CuPc such as flowability, dispersing ability, wetting property and particle size. The wetting angle for the microcapsule is increased, and flowability and dispersing level (in toluene) of microencapsulated CuPc are improved significantly. A better pigment dispersion can be prepared by PS using a loading of 2¯5%. Thus it is possible to reduce the viscosity of a dispersion coloured with microencapsulated CuPc and increase the solids loading of the dispersion system.