Preparation and properties of polystyrene‐g‐poly(butyl acrylate) copolymer emulsions with ultrasonic radiation. I. Preparation technology and coagulum ratio

A stable emulsion of polystyrene‐g‐poly(butyl acrylate) was prepared via the following steps: (1) foam polystyrene waste was dissolved in butyl acrylate; (2) the solution was added to an aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate, ammonium persulfate, and sodium hydrogen bicarbonate; and (3) the mixture was emulsified and graft‐copolymerized by ultrasonic radiation and agitation. Then, the effects of various factors, such as the strength and time of the ultrasonic radiation, the type and dosage of the emulsifier, the concentrations of the initiator and butyl acrylate, the quantity of acrylic acid, and the reaction temperature, on the coagulum ratio were investigated and analyzed. As a result, a suitable technology for reducing the amount of coagulum could be proposed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1405–1409, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel silicone containing vinylic macromonomer and its uses in the preparation of poly (silicone‐co‐styrene‐co‐butylacrylate) with montmorillonite nanocomposite emulsion

A new silicone containing macromonomer, 4‐(methacrylamido) phenoxy polymethylhydrosiloxane (4‐MPMHS) with a vinyl group, was successfully synthesized. Then poly (silicone‐co‐styrene‐co‐butylacrylate) with montmorillonite, P (Si‐co‐St‐co‐BA) with MMT nanocomposite emulsion was prepared by in situ intercalative emulsion polymerization of styrene (St), butyl acrylate (BA), and 4‐MPMHS, in the presence of organic modified montmorillonite (OMMT) with different OMMT contents (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 wt %). Potassium persulphate (KPS) was used as an initiator and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSA) and nonyl phenol ethylene oxide—40 U (NP‐40) were used as anionic and nonionic emulsifiers, respectively. The resulting macromonomer was characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transformer infrared (FT‐IR), proton (¹H NMR), and carbon (¹³C NMR) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopes. The OMMT was characterized by FT‐IR and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The nanocomposite emulsions were characterized by using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), laser light scattering, and surface tension method. Thermal properties of the copolymers were studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and then the effects of OMMT percent on the water absorption ratio and drying speed were examined. Results showed that OMMT could improve the properties of emulsion. In other words, the properties of nanocomposite emulsions were better when compared with those of the silicone‐acrylate emulsion. The property of nanocomposite emulsion containing 1 wt % OMMT was the best one, and the following advantages were obtained: smaller particle size, faster drying speed, smaller surface tension, and improved water resistance by the incorporation of OMMT. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Ab initio reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer emulsion polymerization of styrene/butyl acrylate mediated by poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐polystyrene trithiocarbonate

Ab initio reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization of styrene/butyl acrylate was investigated with the trithiocarbonate macro‐RAFT agent poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐polystyrene (PAA‐b‐PS) as a stabilizer and a RAFT agent. Influences of the amount of ammonium persulfate (APS), the amount of PAA‐b‐PS and the mass ratio of monomers on emulsion polymerization and film properties are discussed. The particle morphology exhibited spherical‐like structure with particles of about 90 nm in diameter and relatively narrow particle size distribution characterized using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic laser scattering. Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectra showed that the styrene/butyl acrylate emulsion was successfully synthesized. The monomer conversion increased initially with increasing amount of APS, from 0.4 up to 0.8 wt%, and then decreased. The particle size increased and its distribution decreased gradually with increasing amount of APS. The monomer conversion increased from 76.83 to 94.21% as the amount of PAA‐b‐PS increased from 3 to 4 wt%, and then decreased with further increase of PAA‐b‐PS. The particle size decreased and its distribution increased with increasing amount of PAA‐b‐PS. The water resistance and solvent resistance of the polymer films initially increased and then decreased with decreasing mass ratio of butyl acrylate to styrene. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of granulometry and organic treatment of a Brazilian montmorillonite on the properties of poly(styrene‐co‐n‐butyl acrylate)/layered silicate nanocomposites prepared by miniemulsion polymerization

The influence of granulometry and organic treatment of a Brazilian montmorillonite (MMT) clay on the synthesis and properties of poly(styrene‐co‐n‐butyl acrylate)/layered silicate nanocomposites was studied. Hybrid latexes of poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate)/MMT were synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization using either sodium or organically modified MMT. Five clay granulometries ranging from clay particles smaller than 75 μm to colloidal size were selected. The size of the clay particles was evaluated by specific surface area measurements (BET). Cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride was used as an organic modifier to enhance the clay compatibility with the monomer phase before polymerization and to improve the clay distribution and dispersion within the polymeric matrix after polymerization. The sodium and organically modified natural clays as well as the composites were characterized by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The latexes were characterized by dynamic light scattering. The mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of the composites obtained were characterized by dynamical‐mechanical analysis, thermogravimetry, and small amplitude oscillatory shear tests, respectively. The results showed that smaller the size of the organically modified MMT, the higher the degree of exfoliation of nanoplatelets. Hybrid latexes in presence of Na‐MMT resulted in materials with intercalated structures. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Preparation of a self‐compatibility alloy via a seed‐graft concentrated‐emulsion pathway

A novel polymerization procedure, the concentrated‐emulsion graft polymerization of styrene monomer with poly(butyl acrylate) seed, was proposed for the production of a self‐compatibility macromolecule alloy. The effects of the butyl acrylate content, sodium dodecyl sulfate concentration, and polymerization temperature on the graft ratio were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and impact strength were used to characterize the microstructure and mechanical performance of the self‐compatibility macromolecule alloy. The results showed that increasing the butyl acrylate content, reducing the sodium dodecyl sulfate concentration, and improving the polymerization temperature all favored an increased graft ratio, which resulted in increased impact strength of the self‐compatibility macromolecule alloy. Therefore, the concentrated‐emulsion polymerization method is particularly suitable for seed‐graft polymerization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2915–2920, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10288     

n‐Butyl acrylate based latex interpenetrating polymer networks used as processing modifiers and impact modifiers of poly(vinyl chloride)

A latex interpenetrating polymer network (LIPN), consisting of poly(n‐butyl acrylate), poly(n‐butyl acrylate‐co‐ethylhexyl acrylate), and poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐ethyl acrylate) and labeled PBEM, with 1,4‐butanediol diacrylate as a crosslinking agent was synthesized by three‐stage emulsion polymerization. The initial poly(n‐butyl acrylate) latex was agglomerated by a polymer latex containing an acrylic acid residue and then was encapsulated by poly(n‐butyl acrylate‐co‐ethylhexyl acrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐ethyl acrylate). A polyblend of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and PBEM was prepared through the blending of PVC and PBEM. The morphology and properties of the polyblend were studied. The experimental results showed that the processability and impact resistance of PVC could be enhanced considerably by the blending of 6–10 phr PBEM. This three‐stage LIPN PBEM is a promising modifier for manufacturing rigid PVC. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1168–1173, 2004     

Ultrasonically initiated emulsion polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate

Ultrasonically initiated emulsion polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate (BA) without added initiator has been studied. The experimental results show that high conversion of BA can be reached in a short time by employing an ultrasonic irradiation technique with a high purge rate of N₂. The viscosity average molecular weight of poly(n‐butyl acrylate) (PBA) obtained reaches 5.24 × 10⁶ g mol^?1. The ultrasonically initiated emulsion polymerization is dynamic and complicated, with polymerization of monomer and degradation of polymer occurring simultaneously. An increase in ultrasound intensity leads to an increase in polymerization rate in the range of cavitation threshold and cavitation peak values. Lower monomer concentration favours enhancement of the polymerization rate. ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopies reveal that there are some branches and slight crosslinking, and also carboxyl groups in PBA. Ultrasonically initiated emulsion polymerization offers a new route for the preparation of nanosized latex particles; the particle size of PBA prepared is around 50–200 nm as measured by transmission electron microscopy. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of novel,temperature‐sensitive microgels based on N‐isopropylacrylamide and tert‐butyl acrylate

A series of temperature‐sensitive microgels based on N‐isopropylacrylamide as the main monomer, tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) as the comonomer, and N,N′‐methylene‐bis(acrylamide) as the crosslinker were synthesized with a modified surfactant‐free emulsion polymerization method. The chemical structure and global shape with an excellent monodispersity of the microgels were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The temperature‐sensitive behavior of the microgels was investigated by dynamic light scattering and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometric analysis. The results show that the volume phase‐transition temperature of the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐tert‐butyl acrylate) [poly(NIPAM‐co‐tBA)] microgels were tuned over a broad range by the incorporated amount of tBA comonomer and their temperature sensitivity decreased with increasing content of tBA units incorporated into the microgel network. Furthermore, the swelling ratios of the poly (NIPAM‐co‐tBA) microgels were lowered gradually with increasing tBA unit content within the microgel network. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2962–2967, 2007     

Synthesis and micellization behavior of amphiphilic graft copolymer with 1‐octene as hydrophobic moiety

Two new kinds of amphiphilic copolymers were synthesized in this work. Poly(1‐octene‐co‐acrylic acid) copolymers were prepared through the copolymerization of 1‐octene and tert‐butyl acrylate, and the hydrolysis of tert‐butyl acrylate units. Poly(1‐octene‐co‐acrylic acid)‐g‐poly (ethylene glycol) copolymers were obtained from the esterification reaction between poly(1‐octene‐co‐acrylic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether. They were characterized by means of ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, GPC, and FTIR. These amphiphilic copolymers can form stable micelles in aqueous solutions. The critical micelle concentration was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. The micellar morphology and size distribution were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Thermal and sonochemical degradation kinetics of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐alkyl acrylates): Variation of chain strength and stability with copolymer composition

The thermal degradation of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐alkyl acrylate) was compared with ultrasonic degradation. For this purpose, different compositions of poly (n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐methyl acrylate) (PBMAMA) and a particular composition of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐ethyl acrylate) (PBMAEA) and poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate) (PBMABA) were synthesized and characterized. The thermal degradation of polymers shows that the poly(alkyl acrylates) degrade in a single stage by random chain scission and poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) degrades in two stages. The number of stages of thermal degradation of copolymers was same as the majority component of the copolymer. The activation energy corresponding to random chain scission increased and then decreased with an increase of n‐butyl methacrylate fraction in copolymer. The effect of methyl acrylate content, alkyl acrylate substituent, and solvents on the ultrasonic degradation of these copolymers was investigated. A continuous distribution kinetics model was used to determine the degradation rate coefficients. The degradation rate coefficient of PBMAMA varied nonlinearly with n‐butyl methacrylate content. The degradation of poly (n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐alkyl acrylate) followed the order: PBMAMA < PBMAEA < PBMABA. The variation in the degradation rate constant with composition of the copolymer was discussed in relation to the competing effects of the stretching of the polymer in solution and the electron displacement in the main chain. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Poly(methyl acrylate) and copolymer of acrylic acid and butyl acrylate prepared by γ‐irradiation in the presence of 1,1‐diphenylethene: Synthesis and application in emulsion polymerization

Poly(methyl acrylate) and amphiphilic copolymer of butyl acrylate and acrylic acid were prepared in the presence of 1,1‐diphenylethene (DPE) by γ‐irradiation‐induced polymerization. The influences of polymerization time, amounts of DPE in system on conversion, molecular weight (MW), and its distribution (M_w/M_n) were studied. The results indicate that the polymerization in the presence of DPE and initiated by γ‐irradiation shows the character of controlled radical reaction. The prepared copolymer was used as the polymeric emulsifier in the emulsion polymerizations of butyl acrylate (BA) and styrene (St), respectively, to assess the possibility of making monodisperse latices of relatively high solids content (～ 35–45%) in an one‐step batch process. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Emulsifier‐minor emulsion copolymerization of BA‐MMA‐St‐MAA (or AA)‐N‐MA

A novel emulsion polymerization technique referred to as emulsifier‐minor emulsion polymerization was achieved by the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and styrene (MMA‐BA‐St) with a combination of water‐soluble ionic monomers [methacrylic acid (MAA) or acrylic acid (AA)] and nonionic monomers (N‐methylol acrylamide). In the technique, water‐soluble monomers play a crucial role in the stabilization of the latex particles as they can be bound to the particle surface and form a hydrate protective layer, which exhibits steric and/or electrostatic effects to prevent particle coagulation. The minor but over its critical micelle concentration emulsifier sodium alkylated diphenyl ether disulfonate (DSB) results in the nucleation of particles mainly by the micelle nucleation mechanism and thus determines the polymerization rate, the particle size, and the number. The film water resistance of the latices can be improved, and the foaming capacity of can be lowered by using technique instead of conventional emulsion polymerization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2923–2929, 2004     

Complexation of poly(dimethylsiloxane)/poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) latex with poly(dimethylsiloxane)/poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐butyl acrylate) latex

Two latices—the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) system (PA latex) and the PDMS/poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐butyl acrylate) system (PB latex)—were prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization, and PA/PB complex latices were obtained through the interparticle complexation of the PA latex with the PB latex. In addition, for the further study of the interparticle complexation of the PA latex with the PB latex, copolymer latices [PDMS/methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate‐co‐vinyl acetate‐co‐methacrylic acid) (PC)] were prepared according to the monomer recipe of the complex latices and the polymerization process of the component latices. The properties of the obtained polymer latices and complex latices were investigated with surface‐tension, contact‐angle, and viscosity measurements. The mechanical properties of the coatings obtained from the latices were investigated with tensile‐strength measurements. The results showed that, in comparison with the two component latices (PA latex and PB latex) and the corresponding copolymer latices (PC latices), the PA/PB complex latices had lower surface tension, lower viscosities, and better wettability to different substrates. The tensile strengths of the coatings obtained from the complex latices were higher than the tensile strengths of the coatings from the two component latices and copolymer latices. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2522–2527, 2004     

Self‐assembly and drug delivery behaviors of thermo‐sensitive poly(t‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) micelles

Self‐assembly of thermo‐sensitive poly (t‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PtBA‐ b‐PNIPAM) micelles in aqueous medium and its applications in controlled release of hydrophobic drugs were described. PtBA‐b‐PNIPAM was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization and aggregated into thermo‐sensitive core‐shell micelles with regular spheres in water, which was confirmed by ¹H‐NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopic (TEM), and UV–vis spectroscopic techniques. The critical micelle concentration of micelles decreased with the increase of the hydrophobic components. The anti‐inflammation drug naproxen (NAP) was loaded as the model drug into polymeric micelles, which showed a dramatic thermo‐sensitive fast/slow switching behavior around the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). When the temperature was enhanced above LCST, release of NAP from core‐shell micelles was accelerated ascribed to the temperature‐induced deformation of micelles. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Hydrolyzable‐emulsifier‐containing polymer latices as dispersants and binders for waterborne carbon black paint

Poly(styrene‐co‐butyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) latices were prepared by emulsion polymerization with alkali‐hydrolyzable and nonhydrolyzable cationic emulsifiers and were used as a dispersant and binder for waterborne carbon black (CB) paint. CB was dispersed in the latex solutions and then coated on filter paper pretreated with dilute aqueous Na₂CO₃ under mild conditions. The styrene (St)‐rich rigid copolymer latices easily dispersed the CB but fixed a little amount of the pigment on the paper surface. In contrast, the methacrylate‐ and acrylate‐rich soft latices tended to increase the adhesibility on it. We also demonstrated that the hydrolyzable‐emulsifier‐containing latices always had a higher adhesibility than the nonhydrolyzable‐emulsifier‐containing ones. Thus, the hydrolyzable‐emulsifier‐containing latices with an appropriate St content had the highest paintability, rapid adhesion, quick drying, reduced fading, superior fastness, and so on. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3869–3873, 2013     

Influence of an oligomer polyol and monomers on the structure and properties of core–shell polyurethane–poly(n‐butyl acrylate‐co‐styrene) hybrid emulsions

The free‐radical polymerization of alkenyl‐terminated polyurethane dispersions with styrene and n‐butyl acrylate was performed to obtain a series of stable polyurethane–poly(n‐butyl acrylate‐co‐styrene) (PUA) hybrid emulsions. The core–shell structure of the emulsions was observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the microstructure was studied by ¹H‐NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of the poly(propylene glycol)s (number‐average molecular weights = 1000, 1500, and 2000 Da) and the mass ratios of polyurethane to poly(n‐butyl acrylate‐co‐styrene) (PBS; 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, 20/80, and 10/90) on the structure, morphology, and properties of the PUAs were investigated. The average particle size and water absorption values of the PUAs increased with increasing of PBS content. However, the surface tension decreased from 34.61 to 30.29 mN/m. PUA‐2, with a bimodal distribution, showed Newtonian liquid behaviors, and PUA‐3 showed a great thermal stability, fast drying characteristics, and excellent adhesion to packaging films. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43763.     

Morphologies and dynamic mechanical properties of core‐shell emulsifier‐free latexes and their copolymers for P(BA/MMA)/P(MMA/BA) and P(BA/MMA)/PSt systems in the presence of AHPS

Different poly(methyl methacrylate/n‐butyl acrylate)/poly(n‐butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate) [P(BA/MMA)/P(MMA/BA)] and poly(n‐butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate)/polystyrene [P(BA/MMA)/PSt] core‐shell structured latexes were prepared by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization in the presence of hydrophilic monomer 3‐allyloxy‐2‐hydroxyl‐propanesulfonic salt (AHPS). The particle morphologies of the final latexes and dynamic mechanical properties of the copolymers from final latexes were investigated in detail. With the addition of AHPS, a latex of stable and high‐solid content (60 wt %) was prepared. The diameters of the latex particles are ～0.26 μm for the P(BA/MMA)/P(MMA/BA) system and 0.22–0.24 μm for the P(BA/MMA)/PSt system. All copolymers from the final latexes are two‐phase structure polymers, shown as two glass transition temperatures (T_gs) on dynamic mechanical analysis spectra. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3078–3084, 2002     

Preparation and kinetic analysis of PS‐b‐PBA block copolymer by 4‐oxo‐TEMPO capped polystyrene macroinitiators

Polystyrene‐block‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate) block copolymers were prepared from 4‐oxo‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinooxy (4‐oxo‐TEMPO) capped polystyrene macroinitiators at a high temperature, 165°C. It was found that the number‐average molecular weight of PBA chains in block copolymers could reach above 10,000 rapidly at early stage of polymerization with a narrow polydispersity index of 1.2–1.4, but after that, the polymerization seemed to be retarded. Furthermore, according to the kinetic analysis, the concentration of 4‐oxo‐TEMPO was increased mainly by the hydrogen transfer reaction of hydroxylamine (4‐oxo‐TEMPOH) to growing radicals during polymerization. This increase in 4‐oxo‐TEMPO concentration could retard the growth of polymer chains. The rate constant of the hydrogen transfer reaction of 4‐oxo‐TEMPOH to growing radicals, k_H, estimated by the kinetic model is about 9.33 × 10⁴M^‐1s^?1 at 165°C. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Soap‐free emulsion copolymerization of perfluoroalkyl acrylates in the presence of a reactive surfactant

Soap‐free emulsion copolymerization of perfluoroalkyl acrylate (FA)/methyl methacrylate (MMA)/n‐butyl acrylate (n‐BA) was carried out in the presence of sodium 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl propanesulfonate (AMPSNa) as a reactive surfactant and potassium persulfate (KPS) as an initiator. An analysis of the effects of concentration of AMPSNa, KPS, FA as well as polymerization temperature on the kinetic features (rate of polymerization) and colloidal characteristics (mean particle diameter, particle disperse index, particle numbers, and surface charge density) was followed. NMR, FTIR, AFM, and fluorine‐selective electrode analysis were used to characterize the composition and morphology of the FA copolymers. Both AFM analysis and contact angle measurements strongly implied that the fluorinated segments migrated to the outmost surface and created films with lower surface energy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2438–2444, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of PBMA‐b‐PSt‐b‐PBMA triblock copolymers by atom transfer radical emulsion polymerization

Poly(n‐butyl methacrylate)‐b‐polystyrene‐b‐poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PBMA‐b‐PSt‐b‐PBMA) triblock copolymers were successfully synthesized by emulsion atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Difunctional polystyrene (PSt) macroinitiators that contained alkyl chloride end‐groups were prepared by ATRP of styrene (St) with CCl₄ as initiator and were used to initiate the ATRP of butyl methacrylate (BMA). The latter procedure was carried out at 85°C with CuCl/4,4′‐di (5‐nonyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine (dNbpy) as catalyst and polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether (Brij35) as surfactant. Using this technique, triblock copolymers consisting of a PSt center block and PBMA terminal blocks were synthesized. The polymerization was nearly controlled, ATRP of St from those macroinitiators showed linear increases in the number average molecular weight (Mn) with conversion. The block copolymers were characterized with infrared (IR) spectroscopy, hydrogen‐1 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹HNMR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effects of the molecular weight of macroinitiators, concentration of macroinitiator, catalyst, emulsion, and temperature on the polymerization were also investigated. Thermodynamic data and activation parameters for the ATRP were also reported. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1508–1514, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers