Methods for producing photosensitive microparticles

1. A method for producing a non-aqueous dispersion of photosensitive microparticles comprising:

a) preparing an aqueous dispersion of a photosensitive material and a polymerizable component, wherein the polymerizable component comprises at least one hydrophilic functional group and at least one hydrophobic functional group;

b) subjecting the dispersion of a) to conditions sufficient to form microparticles;

c) at least partially polymerizing the polymerizable component;

d) combining the dispersion with an organic continuous phase comprising an organic solvent;

e) removing water from the dispersion such that the final water content of the non-aqueous dispersion is less than 30 percent by weight; wherein step e) is performed before or after step d); and

f) reacting any acid functional groups in the microparticles with at least one reactive material.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactive material has at least one epoxy functional group, at least one thiocarbonylthio functional group, at least one alkoxyamine functional group, and/or at least one halide functional group.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reactive material has at least one epoxy functional group and at least one hydroxyl functional group and comprises 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol).

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the reactive material has at least one epoxy functional group and at least one halide functional group.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the reactive material comprises a reaction product of (1) an epoxy functional compound with at least one active hydrogen group capable of reacting with an acid halide or alkyl ester and (2) an acid halide or alkyl ester functional compound having at least one halide functional group.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the reactive material comprises a reaction product of (1) 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol) and (2) 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoyl bromide.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic solvent is a polar solvent comprising an alcohol, dial, glycol, ether, amide, nitrile, ester, ketone, and/or lactam.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic functional group is provided by a substantially hydrophilic monomer and the hydrophobic functional group is provided by a substantially hydrophobic monomer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the substantially hydrophilic monomer is prepared from a triisocyanate and/or a polycarbonate functional diol prepared from the reaction of 1,6-hexanediol with phosgene or dimethyl carbonate.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymerizable component further comprises at least one copolymerizable material that is different from the substantially hydrophilic monomer or the substantially hydrophobic monomer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises subjecting the dispersion of a) to high shear stress conditions.

12. A method for producing a non-aqueous dispersion of photosensitive microparticles comprising:

a) preparing an aqueous dispersion of a substantially hydrophilic prepolymer component;

b) preparing an aqueous dispersion of a substantially hydrophobic prepolymer component, wherein the dispersion of a) and/or b) further comprises a photosensitive material;

c) combining the dispersions of a) and b) to form a mixture and subjecting the mixture to conditions sufficient to form microparticles;

d) polymerizing the prepolymer components in the mixture;

e) combining the mixture with an organic continuous phase comprising an organic solvent;

f) removing water from the mixture such that the final water content less than 30 percent by weight; wherein f) is performed before or after e); and

g) reacting any acid functional groups in the microparticles with a reactive material having at least one epoxy functional group.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the reactive material has at least one epoxy functional group and at least one hydroxyl functional group, at least one thiocarbonylthio functional group, at least one alkoxyamine functional group, or at least one halide functional group.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the reactive material has at least one epoxy functional group and at least one hydroxyl functional group and comprises 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol).

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the reactive material has at least one epoxy functional group and at least one halide functional group.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the reactive material comprises a reaction product of (1) an epoxy functional compound with at least one active hydrogen group capable of reacting with an acid halide or alkyl ester and (2) an acid halide or alkyl ester functional compound having at least one halide functional group.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the reactive material comprises a reaction product of (1) 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol) and (2) 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoyl bromide.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the photosensitive material is an organic photochromic material having at least one functional group that is polymerizable with the prepolymer component of a) and/or b).

19. The method of claim 12 wherein c) comprises subjecting the mixture to high shear stress conditions.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the photosensitive material is chosen from fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, nonlinear optical materials, photochromic materials or mixtures thereof.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the organic solvent is a polar solvent comprising an alcohol, diol, glycol, ether, amide, nitrile, ester, ketone, and/or lactam.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the polymerizable component further comprises at least one copolymerizable material that is different from the substantially hydrophilic monomer or the substantially hydrophobic monomer.