Cross-Linked Porous Poly(Acrylic Acid-co-Acrylamide) from High Internal Phase Emulsions: Preparation and Functionalisation

By using emulsions with high volume fractions of internal phase as polymerisation media porous copolymers of acrylic acid and acrylamide, cross-linked by methylenebisacrylamide, were prepared. The ratio of acrylic acid to acrylamide were varied (molar ratios 70:30, 50:50, 30:70) in order to yield polymers with various loading of acidic functional groups. Porous polymers with an open-cellular architecture were obtained with void diameters between 2.8 μm and 3.9 μm and with interconnecting pores approx. 0.3 μm in diameter. The chemical composition of the polymers influenced the conversion degrees during the process of functionalisation of acidic groups to acid chloride, being the highest in the case of polymer with the lowest content of acrilyc acid.