Encapsulation of thermochromic - thermosensitive pigments via miniemulsion polymerization.

• Grant number: 13/01648-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Reinaldo Giudici
• Grantee: Maria Magdalena Espinola Colmán
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/14619-5 - Encapsulation of thermochromic - thermosensitive pigments via polymerization in miniemulsion, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

This project aims at obtaining structured nanoparticles from polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene-co-butyl acrylate, containing thermochromic-thermosensitive pigments incorporated in the matrix. The main objective of this work is the encapsulation of the pigment in a polymeric structure, promoting better interaction between polymer and pigment, obtaining an innovative product with thermochromic features. The thermosensitive-thermochromic pigments are classified as smart materials capable of detecting environmental stimuli, in this case, changes in temperature causes a change in color of the material. The miniemulsion polymerization technique has the advantage that the particles can be dispersed directly in the monomer droplets and are encapsulated when the miniemulsion droplets are polymerized. The chemical composition of the pigment will be evaluated by EDX and FTIR, the particle size and microstructure by SEM, TEM and DLS respectively and the thermal behavior using thermogravimetric analysis. Also, it is intended to improve the control of the polymerization process using tools such as NIR and Raman spectrometer for real-time monitoring of the miniemulsion process, identifying variations in droplet size as well as the conversion rate and composition of the polymer during the reaction. Tests will be performed using different surfactants, stabilizers and co-initiators in order to obtain a good colloidal stability for the formation of stable polymeric nanoparticles containing the pigment in their morphology.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ESPINOLA COLMAN, MARIA M.; VALDEZ, OMAR GARCIA; GEORGE, SEAN; CUNNINGHAM, MICHAEL F.; DA COSTA LAQUA, LETICIA ALVES; GIUDICI, REINALDO. Preparation of Thermochromic Films from Latexes Made by Miniemulsion Polymerization. MACROMOLECULAR REACTION ENGINEERING, v. 13, n. 3, JUN 2019. (13/01648-4, 14/14619-5)