The changes of the molecular weight and particle size with time during the oxidative polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol in an aqueous medium were studied. At the beginning of the oxidative polymerization, the oligomers with the hydrophilic phenoxy anion at the end of oligomer chains are formed rapidly in the aqueous medium. When the molecular weight of the oligomer reaches up to a critical value, the oligomer precipitates out from the water, resulting in the formation of the original particle (or domain). With the increase of the molecular weight, the concentration of the phenoxy anion and the surface charge density of the original particles decrease; therefore, the repulsion force between original particles weaken and the stability of particles in water decreases, resulting in the coagulation of the original particle and the formation of the primary particle. With the further progression of the polymerization, the primary particles coagulate and final particles are formed. A three-stage mechanism of the particle formation is proposed, that is, the particle nucleation first coagulation, and second coagulation. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.