Microencapsulated free-radical initiators can be stored in premade mixtures and provide a heat-triggered controlled release. Reaction with a surrounding monomer matrix results in the formation of a polymer that can be used in repair and curing. Microcapsules that have higher quality storage properties (specifically, resistance to leakage of the core) will be able to have a longer shelf life and therefore be more useful to people who are trying to use them. This research investigates the process of making cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) microcapsules through complex coacervation, analyzes how well the CHP core was encapsulated, and tests how well the capsules store the CHP over time in different solvents. These properties are also compared to a different method of making CHP microcapsules called interfacial polymerization. The major trends found were that they both have comparative core loading percentages and complex coacervation capsules seem to be more resistant to storage solvents with a higher polarity.

Properties of cumene hydroperoxide-core microcapsules prepared via complex coacervation

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