MULTIPHASE STRUCTURED POLYMER PARTICLES, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME, AND USES THEREOF

This invention relates to multiphase structured polymer particles comprising at least two rubber component phases (I) formed by copolymerization of monomer mixtures comprising an acrylate ester and a polyfunctional monomer, a thermoplastic resin component phase (II) formed by copolymerization of a monomer mixture comprising a methacrylate ester and other monomers, and satisfying the following conditions (1)-(5). (1) The number average molecular weight of the thermoplastic resin component forming the outermost phase is 30,000 or less. (2) The weight ratio of phase (I)/phase (II) is 30/70-80/20. (3) Of the adjacent phases (1), a specific relation holds regarding the solubility in water of the monomer mixtures forming the nth and n+1th phases. (4) A specific relation holds between the refractive index of phase (I) and the refractive index of phase (II). (5) The average particle size is 150nm or less. When the multiphase structured polymer particles according to this invention are used alone to form molded products, molded products having excellent transparency and elastic recovery properties can be obtained.