Polymerization of brightly colored emulsions in a glycerol suspension medium

Upon emulsification of a mixture of methyl methacrylate or methacrylic acid monomer, along with divinylbenzene crosslinker and octane porogen into a glycerol suspension medium, brightly colored emulsions form. The bright colors of the emulsion originate from an exact matching of the refractive index of the emulsion droplets with that of the glycerol medium only at certain wavelengths of light - other wavelengths of light scatter. Polymerization of the brightly colored emulsions yields three different latex morphologies depending upon the polymerization temperature and the type of emulsifier, monomer, initiator, or hydrocarbon applied. The latex morphologies obtained range from large porous latex (1-10 μm in size) to medium-sized porous latex (0.1-1 μm in size) to small latex (up to 0.1 μm in size).