Preparation of poly(acrylic acid) particles by dispersion polymerization in an ionic liquid.

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) particles were successfully prepared by dispersion polymerization of acrylic acid in ionic liquid, N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoro-methanesulfonyl)amide ([DEME][TFSA]) at 70 degrees C with low hydrolysis grade (35.4%) poly(vinyl alcohol) as stabilizer. Interestingly, the PAA particles were easily extracted as particle state with water. Thus, the PAA particles had a cross-linked structure during the polymerization without cross-linker. Moreover, it was also noted that the cross-linking density of the PAA particles could be controlled by thermal treatment at various temperatures in [DEME][TFSA] utilizing the advantages of nonvolatility and high thermal stability of the ionic liquid.