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     

Emulsifier‐free miniemulsion polymerization of styrene using a cationic initiator

Polystyrene latex particles were synthesized using a method based on emulsifier‐free miniemulsion polymerization under ultrasonic irradiation in the presence of 2,2′ azobis (2‐amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (V‐50) as a cationic ionizable water‐soluble initiator and cetyl alcohol as costabilizer. The optimized conditions were obtained by using various parameters, such as the amounts of monomer and initiator, and the time and power of ultrasonic irradiation. In optimal conditions, the latex particles appeared to be about 250 nm in diameter through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analyses and monomer conversions of emulsifier‐free miniemulsion polymerization were compared with those of conventional emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization using V‐50 as initiator in both cases. The results showed that in the miniemulsion polymerization, the rate of polymerization (Rp) was significantly higher, and latex particles were significantly smaller than those in the conventional emulsion polymerization. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Gel formation and primary chain lengths in nitroxide-mediated radical copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene in miniemulsion

Gelation in 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO)-mediated cross-linking copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene (8.2 mol%) in aqueous miniemulsion at 125 °C has been investigated. The rate of gel formation relative to monomer conversion was the same in miniemulsion and the corresponding solution polymerization when the organic phase contained 6 vol% tetradecane (TD; hydrophobe) and 48 vol% toluene. However, at 54 vol% TD and no toluene (the same total monomer concentration), the conversion at the gel point was lower in miniemulsion than in solution, consistent with our previous results describing enhanced apparent pendant reactivity related to the presence of TD in the present system. The primary chain lengths were higher in miniemulsion with 54 vol% TD than in miniemulsion with 6 vol% TD and in solution (6 and 54 vol% TD). It was deduced via application of Flory-Stockmayer gelation theory that this difference in primary chain lengths, although significant with regards to gelation, was insufficient to explain the rapid gel formation in the miniemulsion containing 54 vol% TD, which is speculated to be related to specific effects of the heterogeneity of the miniemulsion system.     

Miniemulsion copolymerization of styrene and butyl acrylate initiated by redox system at lower temperature: Reaction kinetics and evolution of particle‐size distribution

The kinetics of the miniemulsion copolymerization of styrene (St) and butyl acrylate (BA) initiated by redox initiators, (NH₄)₂S₂O₈/NaHSO₃, at lower temperature (45°C) was studied. The polymerization rate in miniemulsion copolymerization is lower than that of the corresponding conventional emulsion copolymerization. In regard to the rate of polymerization, the initiator concentration plays a more important role in miniemulsion copolymerization than in conventional emulsion polymerization, while the surfactant concentration has a more important role in conventional emulsion polymerization than in miniemulsion polymerization. These are attributed to their different nucleation mechanisms, which are the same as those found in the miniemulsion polymerization carried out at higher temperatures. While by eliminating nucleation via micelle and ensuring against homogeneous nucleation, miniemulsion polymerization can be carried out by the sole nucleation mechanism—monomer droplet nucleation—at lower temperature. Because of this, the particles become narrower during the polymerization and, finally, monodisperse polymer particles are obtained. The result of the particle numbers indicated that a continuous nucleation will cease at about 60% conversion. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 315–322, 1999     

The influence of monomer types on the colloidal stability in the miniemulsion copolymerization involving alkoxysilane monomer

Unlike conventional emulsion polymerization, monomer droplet nucleation becomes dominant in miniemulsion polymerization, offering the miniemulsion polymerization a great advantage over conventional emulsion polymerization when incorporating alkoxysilane monomer, which can easily undergo premature hydrolysis and condensation reactions, into polymer latex. The extensive premature hydrolysis and condensation can lead to the issue of the colloidal instability. In this article, the influence of monomer types on the colloidal stability in the miniemulsion co-(or ter-)polymerization was investigated when incorporating alkoxysilane monomer into styrene or acrylate latex. In the cases of butyl acrylate (BA)/γ-methacryoxypropytrimethoxysilane (MPMS), BA/methyl methyacrlate (MMA)/MPMS, and BA/styrene (St)/MPMS miniemulsion polymerization, nearly no coagulum was observed. The obtained latex had a long shelf life. However, the coagulum was formed in the late stage of MMA/MPMS and St/MPMS miniemulsion copolymerization. The shelf life of the corresponding latex was short. The selection of the main monomer, which can fast consume alkoxysilane comonomer, was critical to obtain the stable latex. In this way, the alkoxysilane groups were completely buried in particles thus the coagulation caused by condensation reactions derived from the alkoxysilane hydrolysis among particles was suppressed.     

高转化率乳聚丁苯橡胶聚合过程中乳液相对分子质量分布与粒径分布考察

采用中石油吉化分公司乳聚丁苯橡胶高转化率大生产配方,考察了实验室聚合反应釜聚合反应单体转化率随反应时间的变化,采用激光粒度分析仪和凝胶渗透色谱仪测定了聚合反应不同单体转化率的胶乳的粒径分布与分子质量分布,结果表明：胶乳粒径呈正态分布,粒径主要集中分布在0.1μm附近,胶乳的平均粒径随反应时间的延长逐渐增大,但是增加的幅度越来越小;聚合反应时间在11 h前（即转化率小于72%）,胶乳的重均分子质量、Z均分子质量一直增大,而数均分子质量变化无明显规律;而分子质量分布宽度指数随反应的进行变小,表明调整的高转化率配方合成的丁苯橡胶可有效改善聚合生成的胶乳粒径分布。     

ATR‐UV monitoring of methyl methacrylate miniemulsion polymerization for determination of monomer conversion

Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) UV spectroscopy has been used to monitor monomer conversion in methyl methacrylate miniemulsion polymerization. It was found that the vinylic groups of methyl methacrylate strongly absorb the UV light with a maximum absorption at 225 nm. This absorption peak decreases as monomer is converted to polymer. The polymer has a strong absorption at a lower UV region. The results from this feasibility study indicate that ATR‐UV sensor technique has a great potential to be used for on‐line or in‐line process monitoring in emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization. With a partial least square (PLS) calibration model, very good prediction the monomer conversion was obtained. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1471–1475, 2006     

苯乙烯-有机硅烷共聚物作为助稳定剂的细乳液聚合研究

以苯乙烯(St)与甲基丙烯酰氧基丙基三乙氧基硅烷(TEPM)的共聚物P(St-TEPM)为助稳定剂,用于不同亲水性单体的细乳液聚合.考察了P(St-TEPM)助稳定剂在不同亲水性单体(St、甲基丙烯酸甲酯MMA、醋酸乙烯酯VAc)的细乳液聚合过程中对单体转化率、聚合物粒子粒径的影响及成核机理.结果表明,P(St-TEPM)单独作为助稳定剂用于不同单体(St、MMA、VAc)的细乳液聚合,亲油性较好的St和亲水性较好的VAc的聚合转化率分别为90.6%和63.8%,聚合物粒子的最终数目和单体液滴的起始数目(N pf/Nmi )分别为1.06和0.10.通过以上分析认为P(St-TEPM)可以作为细乳液聚合的助稳定剂使用,亲油性单体St聚合机理以单体液滴成核为主体.     

Seeded emulsion polymerization of n-butyl acrylate utilizing miniemulsions

Nucleation of polymer particles in the seeded emulsion polymerization of n-butyl acrylate (BuA) was studied through experiments designed to control the amount of new particles formed. The results show that for the batch and semicontinuous seeded polymerization of BuA, a small amount of new particles was formed in the system in which the monomer was added neat, whereas a singificant amount of new particles was formed when the monomer was added as a miniemulsion. This suggests that new particles formed in the miniemulsion process were from nucleation of the monomer droplets. These experiments also showed that monomer-droplet nucleation decreased with increasing seed concentration in the reactor. For the seeded semicontinuous polymerizations, monomer-droplet nucleation decreases with decreasing BuA miniemulsion feed rate. The results also show that monomerdroplet nucleation takes place whenever miniemulsion droplets exist in the reactor. This study suggests that miniemulsions can be used to control the particle size distribution of a polymer latex system.     

High pressure semibatch emulsion and miniemulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and ethylene

This study presents the experimental study of semibatch emulsion and miniemulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) and ethylene to vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) copolymer at 60°C and 80–300 psig. In the miniemulsion copolymerization, a water-soluble initiator (K₂S₂O₈) is used and VAc miniemulsion is prepared in presence of surfactant and cosurfactant using a sonicator or a high-shear homogenizer. Then, ethylene gas is supplied to the reactor at constant partial pressure. In a miniemulsion process, the mass transfer limitations of VAc from monomer droplets to the aqueous phase, and to micelles or polymer latex particles that are present in conventional macro-emulsion polymerization can be eliminated and the transfer of ethylene dissolved in the aqueous phase to the miniemulsion droplets is the major ethylene transport process for the polymerization. The experimental data show that the amount of ethylene incorporation into the copolymer is higher in miniemulsion polymerization than in emulsion polymerization. The ethylene pressure has been found to have a strong impact on the ethylene incorporation into the copolymer phase in both emulsion and miniemulsion copolymerizations but the increase is more pronounced in miniemulsion case. The VAE copolymer latex particles prepared by miniemulsion polymerization exhibited higher storage stability than those prepared by macro-emulsion polymerization.     

RAFT miniemulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate

It has been well documented that RAFT miniemulsion polymerization has broader molecular weight distribution, compared with its bulk polymerization counterpart. Interestingly, it was found that the PDI value of RAFT miniemulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) mediated by 2-cyranoprop-2-yl dithiobenzoate (CPDB) was still as low as its corresponding bulk polymerization did. PDI could be as low as 1.13 even with typical sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, 1 wt%, surfactant) and n-hexadecane (HD, 2 wt%, costablizer) concentrations. When the polymerization was carried out at 60 °C, a dramatic increase in PDI (>1.4) was observed after 80% monomer conversion since RAFT addition reaction became diffusion-controlled. Increasing the polymerization temperature to 80 °C could reduce the PDI to 1.2 even at 100% monomer conversion. The compartmentalization effect of radicals was surprisingly absence before 30% monomer conversion but became pronounced afterwards in the miniemulsion polymerization. Thus, it still took less time to finish the miniemulsion polymerization with the increase of the surfactant levels.     

提高转化率对乳聚丁苯橡胶性能的影响

以吉林石化公司有机合成厂的乳聚丁苯橡胶(SBR)生产配方为标准配方,研究了聚合反应时间对转化率的影响,分析了提高转化率对SBR的生胶门尼黏度、结合苯乙烯含量、凝胶含量、相对分子质量及其分布、胶乳黏度等基本性能的影响。结果表明,在标准配方条件下,延长聚合反应时间,转化率可以达到70%。转化率为70%时所得SBR与转化率为62%时所得SBR相比,前者的生胶凝胶含量和胶乳黏度均增大了1倍,数均相对分子质量、重均相对分子质量和Z均相对分子质量均高于后者,相对分子质量分布变宽,且前者的生胶结合苯乙烯含量能够达到产品标准,而生胶门尼黏度和在50 m in时的300%定伸应力偏高于产品优级品要求。     

氢化松香/丙烯酸酯复合细乳液的制备及其性能研究

以氢化松香(HR)作为增黏树脂,采用细乳液聚合法制备了HR/丙烯酸酯复合细乳液。探讨了乳化剂、HR等因素对该乳液及其胶膜性能的影响。结果表明:与常规乳液聚合相比,细乳液聚合制得的乳液粒径更小、粒径分布更窄、单体转化率更高、凝聚率更低、Zeta电位更高且体系更稳定;HR能有效改善PSA(压敏胶)的粘接性能,并且当w(HR)=5%时,PSA的初粘力(9#钢球)、180°剥离强度(11.2 N/25 mm)和持粘力(47 min)相对较好。     

有机硅单体细乳液的制备及其性能

以DNS525和DNS500为复合乳化体系(质量比为1∶1),采用机械搅拌辅助超声均质的方法制备了γ-甲基丙烯酰氧丙基三(三甲基硅氧基)硅烷(TRIS)的单体细乳液,考察了机械搅拌时间、超声时间、乳化剂用量、油水比对其稳定性和粒径性能的影响。当机械搅拌60 min,超声均质15 min,乳化剂用量为6%,油水比为2∶3时,在该条件下制得的TRIS均聚细乳液外观呈白色、泛蓝光、均一,凝胶率为0.62%,转化率为98.32%,粒径为226.4 nm,分布宽度系数为0.143。     

Emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization of isobornyl acrylate

Isobornyl acrylate, a highly hydrophobic monomer, was batch‐polymerized in both emulsion and miniemulsion recipes. Surfactant levels above and below the critical micelle concentration were used, as were two different initiator types: ionic (potassium persulfate) and nonionic (t‐butyl hydroperoxide) Samples were analyzed for degree of conversion, molecular weight, and particle size. The effects of reaction type (emulsion versus miniemulsion), surfactant level, type of initiator (ionic versus nonionic) of the polymer properties are discussed. Issues of monomer transport across the aqueous phase, and mechanisms of nucleation, especially at very low surfactant concentrations are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 819–833, 2007     

Reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization of styrene in a miniemulsion: A mechanistic investigation

The RAFT polymerization of styrene in miniemulsion using 1-phenylethyl phenyl-dithioacetate (PEPDTA) as a RAFT agent was investigated, in attempt to reveal the mechanism for the often observed inferior performance such as low polymerization rate, broad molecular weight distribution and particle size distribution in the RAFT miniemulsion polymerization with regular levels of surfactant and co-stabilizer (1 wt% sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2 wt% hexadecane). It is strongly evident that a few of large oligomer particles consisting of oligomer, RAFT agent (RAFT agent refers to the original RAFT agent), and monomer would be formed in the early stage of the polymerization due to the superswelling of the first nucleated droplets. With the regular levels of surfactant and co-stabilizer, the observed low polymerization rate, broadened molecular weight distribution, slow conversion of the RAFT agent, lower N_p, and broadened particle size distribution could be well explained by the formation of these large oligomer particles and their prolonged existence. When the formation of the oligomer particles was suppressed by increasing surfactant and co-stabilizer levels and wise selection of types of RAFT agent, the molecular weight distribution could be narrowed to around 1.3 and particle size distribution could be close to that of the conventional non-living miniemulsion polymerization.     

Particle nucleation and growth in seeded semibatch miniemulsion polymerization of hybrid CeO2/acrylic latexes

CeO₂/acrylic hybrid coatings with high solids content and with nanoparticle percentages up to 5 wt% have been successfully synthesized by seeded semibatch miniemulsion polymerization process. The droplet nucleation efficiency has been assessed by Capillary Hydrodynamic Chromatography and TEM analysis. The effect of the stability of the miniemulsion, the type of initiator and the number of particles of the seed on the efficiency of the nucleation of the nanodroplets fed has been investigated. It was found that the less stable the hybrid miniemulsion, the higher the diffusion of the monomer out of the droplets and hence, the seed latex particles grew in size. However, the CeO₂ nanoparticles did not diffuse out with the monomer and remained in very small droplets that eventually nucleate leading to a bimodal population. When stable miniemulsions were produced by using a polymer as hydrophobe, droplet size increased reducing the number of particles in the seed and monomer diffusion was minimized enhancing nucleation of droplets with larger sizes that produced broad PSDs. Coalescence of droplets was negligible because the size distribution of the nanoceria particles did not change from the seed particles to the final latex. The UV–Vis absorption capacity of the films prepared with increasing the amount of CeO₂ increased, but scattering effects were observed at high loading of CeO₂ due to the large size of the CeO₂ aggregates.     

Effect of carboxylic acid monomer and butadiene on particle growth in the emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene-butadiene-carboxylic acid monomer

Carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber (XSBR) latexes were prepared by emulsifier-free batch emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butadiene with different types of carboxylic acid monomers (AA, MAA, IA). It was found that the particle growth is dependent on the hydrophilic nature of carboxylic acid monomers. SEM studies showed that N_p is almost constant in the particle growth stage (conversion above 10%). Through some calculations by data obtained from DLS technique, average diameter of monomer swollen polymer particles of all the XSBR latexes at the same conversion of 0.4 was obtained to be 368.91, 174.17 and 437.15 nm for AA, MAA and IA, respectively. Several kinetic parameters related to the particle growth stage such as the average number of growing chain per particle were calculated to be 0.474, 0.370 and 1.685 for AA, MAA and IA, respectively. It was observed that these kinetic parameters increase with increasing average diameter of monomer swollen polymer particles, which is consistent with the emulsion polymerization kinetics. Moreover, results indicated that the polymerization rate per particle or equivalently the average number of the growing chain per particle (particle growth stage) decreases by replacing a part of styrene with butadiene in the emulsion copolymerization recipe of styrene-carboxylic acid monomer.     

1,2-丁二烯在连续聚合SSBR中的抑凝机理及应用

以正丁基锂为引发剂、环己烷/己烷为溶剂,采用间歇聚合工艺模拟溶聚丁苯橡胶(SSBR)聚合过程的凝胶生成实验,考察了1,2-丁二烯的抑凝机理.结果表明:1,2-丁二烯具有明显抑凝作用,加入质量分数为(1～5)×10-5时,产品的凝胶质量分数在0.010％以内;其加入质量分数高于5×10-5时,产品的凝胶质量分数低于0.001％;1,2-丁二烯加入量质量分数超过1×10-4时,对聚合反应速率和单体转化率有影响.1,2-丁二烯作为抑凝剂可有效解决连续聚合SSBR工艺中的凝胶挂堵问题.     

Kinetics and colloidal parameters of miniemulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate

BACKGROUND: The miniemulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate initiated by a macromonomeric azoinitiator (macroinimer, MIM) and stabilized by the non‐ionic emulsifier Tween 60 (TW‐60) was investigated. RESULTS: The monomer conversion and the polymerization rate increase with the amount of MIM and then decrease. The desorption rate constants were estimated using the Ugelstad/O'Toole, Gilbert and Nomura models. The Ugelstad/O'Toole and Gilbert models suggest an increase in the k′_des value with increasing emulsifier concentration at the highest MIM concentration while the Nomura model proposes no variation in k′_des with an increase in both TW‐60 and MIM concentrations. The polymerization rate increases in the following order with regard to initiator: MIM < ammonium persulfate < dibenzoyl peroxide < 2, 2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile. CONCLUSION: The increase in the rate of polymerization can be discussed in terms of both increased particle concentration and the gel effect. The size of the polymer particles decreases and the number of polymer particles increases with both TW‐60 and MIM concentrations. This behaviour is attributed to the formation of a larger number of smaller monomer and/or polymer particles and higher particle nucleation rate. The observed long nucleation period for the MIM‐initiated polymerization is attributed to the creation of a crosslinked structure and the immobilization of MIM chains. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry