Polymerisation process and polymer product

Abstract

A method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said particulate material in a continuous liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said particulate material, and said continuous liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said particulate material.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising:
 (i) providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT agent which is (a) associated with the solid particulate material, and (b) functions as a stabiliser for the solid particulate material, the dispersion having been prepared from a composition comprising the solid particulate material, the RAFT agent and one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers as the continuous liquid phase, wherein the composition is then dispersed in a second continuous liquid phase, and   (ii) polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers which form the first mentioned continuous liquid phase under the control of said RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the second continuous liquid phase is an aqueous phase. 
     
     
         28 . A method of preparing a dispersion of polymer particles having solid particulate material dispersed therethrough, said method comprising:
 (i) providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT agent which is (a) associated with the solid particulate material, and (b) functions as a stabiliser for said solid particulate material, the dispersion having been prepared from a composition comprising the solid particulate material, the RAFT agent and one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers as the continuous liquid phase, wherein the composition is then dispersed in a second continuous liquid phase, and   (ii) polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers which form the first mentioned continuous liquid phase under the control of said RAFT agent to form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material and thereby provide a dispersion in the second continuous liquid phase of polymer particles having the solid particulate material dispersed therethrough.   
     
     
         29 . A method of preparing a paint, thermofusable powder paint, filler, adhesive, toner, liquid ink, primer, sealant, diagnostic product or therapeutic product, the method comprising combining with one or more formulation components a polymer having solid particulate material dispersed therethrough prepared according to  claim 28 . 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26 ,  28  or  29 , wherein the solid is selected from inorganic pigments, organic pigments, magnetic material, waxes, bioactive agents, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26 ,  28  or  29 , wherein the largest dimension of the solid particulate material is no greater than 10 microns. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the largest dimension of the solid particulate material is no greater than 1 micron. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 26 ,  28  or  29 , wherein the RAFT agent is of general formula (4): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where each X is independently a polymerised residue of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, n is an integer ranging from 0 to 100, R 1  is an organic group optionally substituted with one or more hydrophilic groups and Z is any group that can promote sufficient reactivity of the thiocarbonyl group towards radical additional while not slowing the rate of fragmentation to the extent that there is unacceptable retardation of polymerisation. 
       
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 26  or  28 , wherein the second continuous liquid phase is an aqueous phase, and the method provides an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles having solid particulate material dispersed therethrough. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the inorganic and organic pigments are selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate, iron oxide, silicone dioxide, barium sulfate, carbon black, phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, quinacridone, dibromananthrone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 26 ,  28  or  29 , wherein the RAFT agent is an amphipathic RAFT agent. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 26 ,  28  or  29 , wherein the RAFT agent is of general formula (4): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where each X is independently a polymerised residue of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, n is an integer ranging from 0 to 100, R 1  is an organic group optionally substituted with one or more hydrophilic groups, and Z is optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted arylalkyl, optionally substituted alkylthio, optionally substituted arylalkylthio, dialkoxy- or diaryloxy-phosphinyl [—P(═O)OR 2   2 ], dialkyl- or diaryl-phosphinyl [—P(═O)R 2   2 ], optionally substituted acylamino, optionally substituted acylimino, optionally substituted amino, R 1 —(X) n —S— or a polymer chain formed by any mechanism and alkyl end capped derivatives thereof, where R 1 , X and n are as defined above and R 2  is optionally substituted C 1 -C 18  alkyl, optionally substituted C 2 -C 18  alkenyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, optionally substituted aralkyl, and optionally substituted alkaryl.