Miniemulsion copolymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of reactive costabilizer

Miniemulsion stability of three‐component disperse phase systems comprising styrene [ST (1)], methyl methacrylate [MMA (2)], and stearyl methacrylate [SMA (3)] was investigated. The Ostwald ripening rate (ω) increases with increasing MMA content in the monomer mixture. The empirical equation 1 /ω = k(φ₁/ω₁ + φ₂/ω₂) + φ₃/ω₃ was proposed to adequately predict the miniemulsion stability data. The empirical parameter k was determined to be 555.77, and the Ostwald ripening rate (ω₃) and water solubility of SMA were estimated to be 8.77 × 10^?21 cm³/s and 1.90 × 10^?9 mL/mL, respectively. A water‐insoluble dye was used as a molecular probe to study particle nucleation mechanisms in the miniemulsion copolymerizations. In addition to the primary monomer droplet nucleation, homogeneous nucleation also plays an important role in the formation of particle nuclei, and this mechanism becomes more important for the polymerization systems with higher MMA contents as a result of the enhanced aqueous phase polymer reactions. The polymer composition data suggest that, during the early stage of polymerization, MMA is consumed more rapidly by free radical polymerization compared with ST. The final latex particle surface potential data also support this conclusion. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Miniemulsion copolymerizations of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate in the presence of reactive costabilizer

The storage stability and free radical polymerizations of miniemulsions comprising methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), and a reactive costabilizer stearyl methacrylate (SMA) were investigated. The Ostwald ripening rate increases with increasing MMA content in the monomer mixture. Both the pseudo‐two‐component model and empirical equation with one adjustable parameter k adequately predicted the Ostwald ripening rate data. For the empirical model, the least‐squares best fit technique gave a value of k equal to 677.5 and values of Ostwald ripening rate and water solubility equal to (8.8 ± 0.2) × 10^?21 cm³/s and 1.8 × 10^?9 cm³/cm³ for SMA, respectively. These two models were combined to impart some physical insight to the parameter k. The kinetic studies showed that the polymerization rate increased with increasing MMA content. This is closely related to the nature of the constituent monomers MMA and BA and the particle nucleation mechanisms. The reactive costabilizer SMA is not hydrophobic enough to completely eliminate the Ostwald ripening effect, thereby increasing the probability of polymer reactions in the continuous aqueous phase. Thus, in addition to monomer droplet nucleation, particle nuclei can be generated in the aqueous phase via homogeneous nucleation. The extent of homogeneous nucleation increased with increasing MMA content and, as a result, the number of reaction loci available for the major polymerization to take place followed the same trend. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Kinetics of reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) miniemulsion polymerization of styrene using dibenzyl trithiocarbonate as RAFT reagent and costabilizer

The roles of dibenzyl trithiocarbonate (DBTTC) as both costabilizer and reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) reagent in RAFT miniemulsion polymerizations of styrene were investigated. The effectiveness of DBTTC costabilizer in retarding Ostwald ripening involved in the storage stability of miniemulsion is comparable to that of conventional low‐molecular‐weight costabilizers such as cetyl alcohol, but inferior to that of hexadecane. The major variables chosen for studying kinetics of RAFT miniemulsion polymerizations include the type of initiators and levels of DBTTC and surfactant. At a constant level of DBTTC, the rate of polymerization for benzoyl peroxide (BPO)‐initiated polymerization is slower than that for sodium persulfate (SPS)‐initiated polymerization. Furthermore, the polymerization rate decreases with increasing level of DBTTC for polymerizations initiated by BPO (or SPS). It is the monomer droplet nucleation that governs BPO‐initiated polymerizations. In contrast, for SPS‐initiated polymerizations, the probability for homogeneous nucleation to take place is greatly increased, especially for polymerizations with lower levels of DBTTC and higher levels of surfactant. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Miniemulsion polymerization of styrene with polymeric costabilizers

The polymeric costabilizers poly(stearyl methacrylate‐co‐2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PSH) and poly(lauryl methacrylate‐co‐2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PLH), composed of a hydrophilic backbone and several hydrophobic alkyl (stearyl or lauryl) side chains, were prepared by the free‐radical copolymerization of stearyl methacrylate (SMA) or lauryl methacrylate (LMA) with 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate and evaluated in the miniemulsion polymerization of styrene (ST). For comparison, the reactive costabilizers SMA and LMA were also included in this work. The hydrophobicity of costabilizers in increasing order was PLH < PSH < LMA < SMA. Only a small amount of these comb‐like copolymers was capable of producing kinetically stable ST emulsion droplets. The more hydrophobic the costabilizer was, the more effective was the costabilizer in the retardation of Ostwald ripening. About 30–40% of the monomer droplets were successfully converted into latex particles during the polymerization. The degree of monomer droplet nucleation increased with increasing hydrophobicity of the costabilizer. The formation of particle nuclei in the continuous aqueous phase played a crucial role in the polymerization kinetics. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1961–1969, 2004     

Further studies on styrene/styrene derivative copolymerizations using combined diphenylzinc‐additive initiator systems

A combination of diphenylzinc, a metallocene and methylaluminoxane (Ph₂Zn‐metallocene‐MAO) is a suitable initiator system for the polymerization of styrene and for its copolymerization with para‐alkyl substituted styrenes. This paper reports new experimental results which reinforce our previous findings indicating that polymerization processes are initiated by monomer coordination to active species resulting from these particular combined systems. Polymerization propagates by a cationic pathway. Further to our previous observation that the I+ inductive effect of para‐substituents in styrene improves conversion to polymer, we now find that methyl substitution on the vinyl double bond of styrene, in spite of the I+ inductive effect and as a result of increased steric hindrance, makes the polymerization process difficult. On the other hand, the replacement of titanocenes by zirconocenes or hafnocenes generates Ph₂Zn‐metallocene‐MAO initiator systems which are also able to induce homo‐ and copolymerization, but with lower yields and producing practically amorphous polymers. The efficiency of our Ph₂Zn‐metallocene‐MAO initiator systems follows the order titanocene > zirconocene > hafnocene, at least for the studied metallocenes. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Role of mixing in copolymerizations of styrene and n-butyl acrylate

The effect of agitation speed and impeller type on the kinetics of emulsion copolymerization of styrene and n-butyl acrylate was investigated. It was shown that the solids content was an important variable in these studies. At low solids (30%), the impeller type and speed did not have any significant effect on the final number of particles and the overall rate of polymerization. Particle size distributions were unimodal in all the cases. At high solids (50%), some differences were observed when 2 different impellers (Rushton and A310 fluidfoil) were used. The polymerization carried out with the Rushton impeller was faster. Bimodal particle size distributions were obtained for both cases; however, the bimodality was more significant when the A310 fluidfoil impeller was used. Greater numbers of particles and unimodal particle size distributions with high rates of polymerization at 30% solids contrasted the lower numbers of particles and bimodal particle size distributions with lower rates of polymerization seen at 50% solids. These differences were attributed to the partitioning behavior of the surfactant (Triton X-405; octylphenoxy polyethoxy ethanol; Union Carbide, Danbury, CT). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 2277–2289, 1998     

Miniemulsion and conventional emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butadiene: Effect of process on gel content

The properties of styrene/butadiene copolymers obtained by conventional emulsion and miniemulsion polymerizations were studied. Thin layer chromatography with flame ionization detection was used to determine the gel fraction of the copolymer in the latex particles as a function of conversion. It was found that the gel formation began at a higher conversion in the miniemulsion polymerization when compared with that in the conventional process. Also, a lower glass transition temperature was noted at the lowest conversion sampled (～25%), implying a higher initial butadiene monomer concentration within the nucleated miniemulsion monomer droplets when compared with particles formed conventionally. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4616–4622, 2006     

Miniemulsion and conventional emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butadiene: A comparative kinetic study

The kinetics of conventional and miniemulsion copolymerizations of styrene and butadiene were compared using the Mettler RC1 calorimeter. A two‐step homogenization procedure was applied to obtain miniemulsions of these monomers with hexadecane as the costabilizer. The results indicated that the miniemulsion polymerizations proceeded mainly by nucleation in the monomer droplets, while in the conventional emulsion polymerizations, particle formation occurred by a combination of micellar and homogeneous nucleation. The overall rate of miniemulsion polymerization was faster than the corresponding conventional emulsion system if the surfactant concentration was below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and slower if the surfactant concentration was above the cmc. The homogenization process is important for making stable miniemulsion systems, but had no effect on the conventional emulsion system (without hexadecane), most likely because of the second stage addition of the butadiene monomer. The dependencies of the rate of polymerization (heat of reaction) and number of particles on the surfactant concentration differed for the two types of polymerization systems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2304–2312, 2006     

Kinetics of miniemulsion polymerizations of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and/or methyl methacrylate

Two types of reactive acrylic microgel particles of methyl methacrylate (MMA)/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) (66.4/33.6 and 0/100 (mol/mol)) were prepared by miniemulsion polymerization with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator in the temperature range 60–80 °C. Ostwald ripening occurred during the very early stage of polymerization. In addition to the predominant droplet nucleation, homogeneous nucleation was also observed. The polymerization rate for MMA/EGDMA miniemulsion was higher than that for EGDMA miniemulsion. By contrast, comparable apparent limiting conversions were observed for the polymerizations of MMA/EGDMA and EGDMA. The mole fractions of MMA and EGDMA units incorporated into the copolymer product were estimated to be 0.62 and 0.38, respectively, for the polymerization of MMA/EGDMA at 70 °C. The mole fraction of the EGDMA unit containing one ? C?C? within the MMA/EGDMA microgel particle product was estimated to be 0.23, which was comparable to that (0.22) of the EGDMA unit containing one ? C?C? within the EGDMA microgel particle product. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Copolymerization propagation kinetics of styrene with alkyl acrylates

Propagation rate constants have been determined at two temperatures (298 K and 323 K) for the copolymerizations of styrene (STY) with methyl acrylate (MA) and STY with n-butyl acrylate (BA) over a range of monomer feed compositions. A pulsed UV laser was used as an initiation source and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was utilized to analyse the products. None of the copolymerizations conformed to the Mayo-Lewis model, with respect to their propagation rate constants. The results were interpreted on the basis of a penultimate effect on the propagation reaction. In addition, Mark-Houwink constants were determined for poly(MA) and poly(BA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 298 K. These constants are given as [K(dm³ kg^?1),α]: 7·88 × 10^?3, 0·885 and 8·57 × 10³, 0·865 for poly(MA) and poly(BA) respectively.     

Process variables and their effects on grafting reactions of styrene and methyl methacrylate onto natural rubber

The graft copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate onto natural rubber latex was studied under various reaction conditions using a cumene hydroperoxide redox initiator. The monomer conversion, graft copolymer compositions, and grafting efficiency were determined. The synthesized graft copolymers were purified and then characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR) analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A 2 fractional factorial experimental design was applied to study the main effects on the grafting. The variables investigated in this work were the amount of the initiator and emulsifier, the presence or absence of a chain‐transfer agent, the styrene‐to‐methyl methacrylate ratio, the monomer‐to‐rubber ratio, and the reaction temperature. The measured response for the experimental design was the grafting efficiency. The analysis of the results from the design showed the sequence of the main effects on the observed response of the grafting of styrene and methyl methacrylate onto natural rubber, in ascending order. The amount of the chain‐transfer agent and the reaction temperature in the range of the test had significant effects and one marginally significant effect was the monomer‐to‐rubber ratio. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 63–74, 2003     

高分子表面活性剂对细乳液聚合的影响

通过分析细乳液聚合过程中的单体乳液稳定性、聚合反应动力学以及聚合所得乳胶粒的特性,讨论了高分子表面活性剂对细乳液聚合的影响,并与普通低分子表面活性剂进行了比较。     

溴化苯乙烯/苯乙烯/丙烯腈乳液聚合试验条件探索

以过硫酸钾为引发剂,十二烷基硫酸钠为乳化剂,叔十二烷基硫醇为链转移剂,通过乳液法对溴化苯乙烯、苯乙烯、丙烯腈进行共聚得到溴化苯乙烯-丙烯腈共聚物.考察了引发剂、乳化剂、链转移剂的添加量,反应温度,反应时间,水和单体比例等对聚合反应收率的影响.研究表明：较适宜的反应条件为反应温度80℃,反应时间6h,水与单体质量比4∶1,引发剂质量为单体总质量的0.4％,乳化剂质量为单体总质量的4％,叔十二烷基硫醇为单体总物质的量的2％;上述条件下的产物收率高,相对分子质量4万左右,热分解温度高于350℃.     

Effect of GMA on monodisperse epoxy‐functionalized polymer microsphere particles by dispersion copolymerization of styrene with glycidyl methacrylate

Monodisperse poly[styrene‐co‐glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)] microparticles were synthesized by dispersion copolymerization in a water–ethanol medium. The effects of various polymerization parameters on the particle size and size distribution of the dispersion copolymerization were investigated. The dispersion of polymer particles decreased when the GMA was added if the polystyrene homopolymer particles were polydispersed. The GMA acted as a comonomer as well as a costabilizer in the dispersion copolymerization of styrene with GMA. The solvency of the monomer increased with the concentration of GMA in the polymerization medium because GMA has a greater hydrophilicity than styrene, resulting in a large particle size and a slow polymerization rate. From an HCl–dioxane analysis of the poly(styrene‐co‐GMA) microparticles, great amounts of epoxy groups were detected after the completion of dispersion copolymerization. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1206–1212, 2001     

烷基葡糖苷微乳液中苯乙烯聚合的研究

在烷基聚葡糖苷(APG0810)/苯乙烯/水三元体系O/W微乳液中,选用水溶性K2S2O8作为引发剂,制得小粒径(46.6nm)、单分散(P=0.106<0.2)聚苯乙烯颗粒。着重研究了表面活性剂浓度、引发剂浓度以及无机盐浓度对产物粒径和多分散度的影响。最后得出随表面活性剂浓度的增加胶束数目增多,聚合所得颗粒粒径变小(44.3nm),单分散性变差;而随盐浓度的增加聚合物颗粒粒径变小(45.2nm),超过一定浓度时颗粒粒径有增大的趋势;随引发剂浓度的增加聚合物粒径变小(41.2nm)。     

Methacrylate-based block ionomers I: Synthesis of block ionomers derived from t-butyl methacrylate and alkyl methacrylates

Diblock and triblock copolymers of t-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) with 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA) and n-hexyl methacrylate were prepared via alkyl lithium initiation and sequential addition techniques in THF at ?78°C. The tBMA blocks were quantiatively and selectively hydrolyzed to afford poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) blocks which were then neutralized with alkali metal bases to form block ionomers. The unhydrolyzed copolymers had a phase mixed morphology as evidenced by thermal analysis while the hydrolyzed and neutralized polymers were multiphase materials. The carboxylic acid and ioncontaning triblock copolymers formed gels in nonpolar solvents which could be disrupted by the addition of polar additives. Certain carboxylic acid and ioncontaining EHMA/tBMA diblock copolymers also showed this behavior. The triblock ionomers did not show thermoplastic flow prior to degradation, except at the lowest ionic content studied (2%).