Synthesis and characterization of phenolic-type beads by dispersion polymerization of 2-phenoxyethanol with formaldehyde using gum acacia powder as stabilizer

In this study, we report the preparation of phenolic beads (PB) via a novel dispersion polymerization of 2-phenoxyethanol (PE) and formaldehyde, in which gum acacia powder (GAP), formic acid, and sulfuric acid are employed as the steric stabilizer, the reaction medium and the catalyst, respectively. The effects of a variety of reaction parameters, including the stabilizer concentration, the agitation rate, the polymerization temperature, the molar ratio of formaldehyde to 2-phenoxyethanol (F/P) and the amount of sulfuric acid, on the particle size and size distribution (PDI) as well as particle morphology have been investigated. Particularly, phenolic beads of a size 565 mu m as well as a narrow particle size distribution (PDI = 1.153) have been prepared under the following conditions: the stabilizer concentration 2.5%, the agitation rate 700 rpm, the polymerization temperature 60 degrees C, the molar F/P ratio 3:1, and the amount of catalyst 8 ml. In addition, a mechanism for the particle formation in dispersion polymerization of PE and formaldehyde has also been proposed. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.