Dodecanol (DDC) containing polymer composite particles were prepared by emulsion polymerization using styrene, butyl acrylate as main monomers, methacrylic acid as functional monomers, and divinyl benzene or ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinkers. The morphology and particle size were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and laser scattering particle size analyzer. DDC encapsulation was determined by gas chromatography, and the variation of the encapsulated DDC along with the polymerization process was also studied. It was found that the DDC encapsulation was closely related to the mass ratio of DDC to monomers and monomer conversion, and varied with an increase at low monomer conversion followed by a decrease at high monomer conversion, and this decrease was attributed to the incompatibility between DDC and the copolymer.

Key words: emulsion polymerization, polymer-dodecanol composite particle, dodecanol-polymer ratio, encapsulation, compatibility