Abstract: A method has been described of preparing monodisperse polymer particles by free radical polymerization or copolymerization of hydrophobic monomers in a water-based system in the presence of cyclodextrin, characterized in that said free radical polymerization is performed with semi-continuous addition of monomer, wherein said monomer is absent before initiating polymerization, and in that a total solid contents of less than 30% by weight is present in said water-based system, in order to provide monodisperse polymer particles which are very suitable for use in many applications as e.g. in inks or toners, in photonic crystal films, in thermal printing plates for computer-to-plate or computer-to-press applications, in inkjet media, in displays, in photographic films, or as a spacing agent.

Abstract: A method has been described of preparing monodisperse polymer particles by free radical polymerization or copolymerization of hydrophobic monomers in a water-based system in the presence of cyclodextrin, characterized in that said free radical polymerization is performed with semi-continuous addition of monomer, wherein said monomer is absent before initiating polymerization, and in that a total solid contents of less than 30% by weight is present in said water-based system, in order to provide monodisperse polymer particles which are very suitable for use in many applications as e.g. in inks or toners, in photonic crystal films, in thermal printing plates for computer-to-plate or computer-to-press applications, in inkjet media, in displays, in photographic films, or as a spacing agent.

Abstract: This invention offers a new method to produce tabular silver halide grains, more preferably silver bromide or silver bromoiodide grains, having a tabularity, defined as the ratio between the aspect ratio and the thickness of the emulsion crystals, of at least 25 and a homogeniety of the distribution of said silver halide emulsion crystals, defined as a hundred times the ratio between the standard deviation and the average projective crystal diameter of said crystals of less than 30, characterized by the steps of adding to a reaction vessel containing at least one polar aprotic solvent a silver salt in an amount to get a concentration from 0.01 to 1M of said silver salt and a halide salt in an amount to get a concentration 1 to 10.sub.