Synthesis of cross-linked epoxy microparticles: effect of the synthesis parameters.

Epoxy crosslinked microparticles were synthesized from the reaction between diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and a diamino hardener, through precipitation polymerization in a polypropylene glycol solvent. The influence of the monomer concentration, the amine/epoxy stoichiometric ratio, the reaction temperature and the structure of the diamine (aromatic or cycloaliphatic) were investigated, since these parameters may affect the structure and properties of the particles. Morphological analysis revealed that, in all cases, spherical particles were obtained with diameters ranging from 1 to 6 μm.