Functional organic particle, and method for preparing the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to functional organic particles having functional nanoparticles dispersed in an organic polymeric matrix, wherein the distribution of the functional nanoparticles is increased in the direction toward increasing the particle diameter from the center of the functional organic particles, and to a method for preparing the same.

1 . Functional organic particles comprising an organic polymeric matrix, and functional nanoparticles dispersed in the organic polymeric matrix, wherein the distribution amount of the functional nanoparticles is increased in the direction toward increasing the particle diameter from the center of the functional organic particles.  
     
     
         2 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional organic particles have a particle diameter of 100 nm to 1 mm, the functional nanoparticles have a particle diameter of 10 nm to 100 μm, and the particle diameter of the functional nanoparticles is ¼ or less of the particle diameter of the functional organic particles.  
     
     
         3 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of the functional nanoparticles is 0.1 to 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the functional organic particles.  
     
     
         4 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein 70% to 100% of the total number of the functional nanoparticles are contained in the outer region up to the point corresponding to 50% of the radius of the functional organic particle in the direction from the surface to the center of functional organic particle.  
     
     
         5 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the outer region comprising 70% to 100% of the number of the functional nanoparticles is 10 En or more from the surface of the functional organic particle.  
     
     
         6 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional nanoparticles have higher specific densities than those of the organic polymeric matrix.  
     
     
         7 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional nanoparticles are conductive nanoparticles, colored nanoparticles or charge control agents nanoparticles.  
     
     
         8 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 7 , wherein the conductive nanoparticles consist of a) at least one functional metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold, platinum, indium tin oxide (ITO) and antimony tin oxide (ATO), b) at least one nanocarbon selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite, carbon nanotube, fullerene, carbon nanohorn, carbon nanoring and carbon nanowire, or c) a mixture comprising at least two of them.  
     
     
         9 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic polymeric matrix is polymerized with at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of: 
 i) at least one aromatic vinyl-based monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, monochlorostyrene, methylstyrene and dimethylstyrene;    ii) at least one acrylate-based monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate;    iii) at least one methacrylate-based monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate; and    iv) at least one a diene-based monomer selected from the group consisting of butadiene and isoprene.    
     
     
         10 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic polymeric matrix is polymerized with the addition of at least one crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of divinylbenzene, ethylene dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,6-hexamethylene diacrylate, allyl methacrylate, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane triacrylate, triallylamine and tetraallyloxyethane, to the monomers.  
     
     
         11 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional organic particles further comprise a stabilizer for the functional nanoparticles.  
     
     
         12 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer for the functional nanoparticles is at least one selected from the group consisting of linear ester-based polymers, styrene-based polymers and acrylate-based polymers.  
     
     
         13 . The functional organic particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional organic particles are prepared by applying a centrifugal force in a suspension polymerization.  
     
     
         14 . A method for preparing the functional organic particles comprising an organic polymeric matrix, and functional nanoparticles dispersed in the organic polymeric matrix, which comprises: 
 a) a step of preparing a mixture of the monomers by mixing a monomer, a molecular weight modifier, and the functional nanoparticles;    b) a first reaction step of adding a polymerization initiator to the mixture of the monomers and reacting said mixture; and    c) a second reaction step of mixing a product from the first reaction with a dispersant solution, and reacting said product by applying a centrifugal force required so as to increase the distribution amount of the functional nanoparticles in the direction toward increasing the particle diameter from the center of the functional organic particles.    
     
     
         15 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , further comprising, after the c) step, d) a third reaction step of applying, to the product from the second reaction, a centrifugal force weaker than that applied in the second reaction step.  
     
     
         16 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the monomer in the a) step is at least one selected from the group consisting of: 
 i) at least one aromatic vinyl-based monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, monochlorostyrene, methylstyrene and dimethylstyrene;    ii) at least one acrylate-based monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate;    iii) at least one methacrylate-based monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate; and    iv) at least one a diene-based monomer selected from the group consisting of butadiene and isoprene.    
     
     
         17 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the polymerization is performed with the addition of at least one crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of divinylbenzene, ethylene dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,6-hexamethylene diacrylate, allyl methacrylate, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane triacrylate, triallylamine and tetraallyloxyethane in the a) step.  
     
     
         18 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the molecular weight modifier in the a) step is at least one selected from the group consisting of t-dodecyl mercaptan, n-dodecyl mercaptan, n-octyl mercaptan, carbon tetrachloride and carbon tetrabromide.  
     
     
         19 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein in a) step, a stabilizer for the functional nanoparticles is further added.  
     
     
         20 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixture of the monomers in the a) step are prepared by mixing 0.001 to 8 parts by weight of a molecular weight modifier, and 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of the functional nanoparticles, and 0.01 to 50 parts by weight of the polymerization initiator in the b) step is used, relative to 100 parts by weight of the monomers.  
     
     
         21 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the dispersant in the c) step includes at least one dispersant selected from: 
 i) at least one inorganic dispersant selected from the group consisting of silica, an insoluble calcium salt and an insoluble magnesium salt;    ii) at least one anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid salt, an alkyl sulfuric acid ester salt, an alkylaryl sulfuric acid ester salt, dialkyl sulfosuccinate and alkyl phosphate; or    iii) at least one nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyalkylene alkylphenol ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid ester, glycerin fatty acid ester, polyvinyl alcohol, alkyl cellulose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone.    
     
     
         22 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein inert solvent in the dispersant solution in the c) step is water, and dispersant in the aqueous dispersant solution is contained in a proportion of 0.1 to 50 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of water.  
     
     
         23 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 22 , wherein in the c) step, the weight ratio of the product of the first reaction and the dispersant solution is 1:95 to 50:50.  
     
     
         24 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the centrifugal force applied in the c) step is 50 to 5000 G.  
     
     
         25 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 15 , wherein the centrifugal force applied in the d) step is 1 to 1000 G.  
     
     
         26 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein in the b) step, the reaction is preferably performed under stirring at 30 to 95° C. for 1 to 30 minutes, and in the c) step, and the reaction is performed under application of 50 to 5000 G of a centrifugal force by stirring at 30 to 95° C. for 5 to 60 minutes.  
     
     
         27 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 15 , wherein in the d) step, and the reaction is performed under application of 1 G to 1000 G of a centrifugal force by stirring at 30 to 95° C. for 5 to 30 hours.  
     
     
         28 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the functional organic particles have a particle diameter of 100 nm to 1 mm, the functional nanoparticles have a particle diameter of 10 nm to 100 μm, and the particle diameter of the functional nanoparticles is ¼ or less of the particle diameter of the functional organic particles.  
     
     
         29 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the functional nanoparticles are used in an amount of 0.1 to 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the functional organic particles, in the functional organic particles.  
     
     
         30 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the functional nanoparticles have higher specific densities than those of the organic polymeric matrix.  
     
     
         31 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein the functional nanoparticles are conductive nanoparticles, colored nanoparticles or charge control agents nanoparticles.  
     
     
         32 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein, after the c) step, a step of removing the dispersant, reaction agglomerates and reaction by-products, are further carried out.  
     
     
         33 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 15 , wherein, after the d) step, a step of removing the dispersant, reaction agglomerates and reaction by-products, is further carried out.  
     
     
         34 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to  claim 14 , wherein, after the c) step, a step of filtering to remove moisture and drying is further carried out.  
     
     
         35 . The method for preparing the functional organic particles according to claim 15, wherein, after the d) step, a step of filtering to remove moisture and drying is further carried out.