Golf Ball-like\nPolymer Particles by Colloidal Etching

The unique core–corona structure of raspberry-like\nparticles\nmakes it an ideal template for the fabrication of golf ball-like particles\nby selective removal of the corona particles. However, few types of\nraspberry-like polymer–polymer core–corona composite\nparticles have been used as the templates, probably because it is\nrelatively difficult to synthesize well-defined raspberry-like polymer–polymer\ncomposite particles. We describe, for the first time, the fabrication\nof golf ball-like polymer particles by colloidal etching of raspberry-like\npoly(glycidyl methacrylate)-polystyrene (PGMA–PS) composite\nparticles in a tetrahydrofuran (THF)/water medium with a higher THF\nconcentration. Well-defined golf ball-like polymer particles can be\nobtained within 20 s. The influence of various synthesis parameters\nincluding the THF concentration, etching time, and composite particle\nsize on the morphology of the resulting particles has been investigated,\nwhich suggests that a sufficient THF concentration is a prerequisite\nfor the rapid formation of the golf ball-like morphology.