METHOD FOR PREPARING MULTIPLE EMULSION AND POROUS POLYMER PARTICLES THEREFROM

• US 20110136059A1
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Yang, Xiqiang
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/137.14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0804 whereby the components are brought together in a liquid dispersing medium
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08722 Polyvinylalcohols; Polyallylalcohols; Polyvinylethers; Polyvinylaldehydes; Polyvinylketones; Polyvinylketals
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08724 Polyvinylesters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08775 Natural macromolecular compounds or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08777 Cellulose or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09725 Silicon-oxides; Silicates

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a double emulsion with narrow dispersed phase particle size distribution comprising: providing an organic phase comprising solid hydrocolloid particles dispersed in an organic solvent; and dispersing the organic phase in an aqueous phase in the presence of a controlled amount of stabilizing agent to form an emulsion of droplets of the organic phase dispersed in the external aqueous phase, wherein the hydrocolloid particles in the organic phase droplets are swelled with water from the external aqueous phase to form internal droplets of an aqueous phase in the organic phase droplets, thereby forming a double emulsion comprising droplets of the organic phase of controlled narrow particle size distribution in the external aqueous phase, where the organic phase droplets contain internal droplets of an aqueous phase. A method for producing porous polymeric particles by such a double emulsion method, wherein the organic phase further comprises a polymer resin, and wherein the organic solvent is removed from the dispersed organic phase droplets to form porous toner particles.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a double emulsion with narrow dispersed phase particle size distribution comprising:

providing an organic phase comprising solid hydrocolloid particles dispersed in an organic solvent; and

dispersing the organic phase in an aqueous phase in the presence of a controlled amount of stabilizing agent to form an emulsion of droplets of the organic phase dispersed in the external aqueous phase,

wherein the hydrocolloid particles in the organic phase droplets are swelled with water from the external aqueous phase to form internal droplets of an aqueous phase in the organic phase droplets, thereby forming a double emulsion comprising droplets of the organic phase of controlled narrow particle size distribution in the external aqueous phase, where the organic phase droplets contain internal droplets of an aqueous phase.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrocolloid is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), gelatin, alkali-treated gelatin, acid treated gelatin, gelatin derivatives, proteins, protein derivatives, synthetic polymeric binders, water soluble microgels, polystyrene sulphonate, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate) and polyphosphates.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrocolloid is carboxymethyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing agent comprises poylvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylalcohol, colloidal silica or latex particles.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing agent comprises colloidal silica or latex particles.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic phase further comprises a polymer, and further comprising a step of evaporating the organic solvent from the dispersed organic phase droplets to form porous polymer particles.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising isolating the polymer particles.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising drying the polymer particles.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the polymer comprises a polymer formed from at least one of vinyl monomers, condensation monomers, condensation esters and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, styrenes, vinyl ethers and vinyl ketones.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein polymer is a polyester.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the hydrocolloid is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), gelatin, alkali-treated gelatin, acid treated gelatin, gelatin derivatives, proteins, protein derivatives, synthetic polymeric binders, water soluble microgels, polystyrene sulphonate, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate) and polyphosphates.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the hydrocolloid is carboxymethyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the stabilizing agent comprises poylvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylalcohol, colloidal silica or latex particles.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein the stabilizing agent comprises colloidal silica or latex particles.

16. The method of claim 6 wherein the aqueous phase further comprises buffering salts or electrolyte ions.

17. The method of claim 6 wherein the organic solvent comprises ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, chloromethane, dichloromethane, vinyl chloride, trichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, ethylene chloride, trichloroethane, toluene, xylene, cyclohexanone or 2-nitropropane.

18. The method of claim 6 wherein prior to evaporating the organic solvent, additional water is added to the emulsion.

19. The method of claim 6 wherein the organic phase further comprises at least one of colorants, waxes and charge control agents.

20. The method of claim 6 wherein the polymer particles are toner particles.