The in situ interfacial polymerisation microencapsulation technique has been studied in detail by preparing liquid filled melamine-formaldehyde microcapsules. To examine the effect of microencapsulation variables upon microcapsule structure and morphology, three variables; internal phase, surfactant and mixing speeds, were studied. The resultant microcapsules were characterised using optical microscopy, SEM, and particle sizing.
Thereafter, solutions of dyes and fluorophores were encapsulated to enhance microcapsule characterisation using optical, fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Leaching experiments were conducted on three separate batches of microcapsules; phenanthroline, ferrocene and chlorobenzene containing microcapsules. Microcapsule leaching was monitored using UVNisible spectroscopy and gas chromatography. In a separate experiment, a ruthenium homogeneous catalyst was encapsulated and the resultant microcapsules were characterised using SEM, EDAX and UVNisible spectroscopy.