Abstract: | A styrene‐acrylic/SiO2 nanoparticle composite emulsion was prepared by using SiO2 nanoparticles as seeds. The effect of factors such as the level of nano‐SiO2, reaction temperature and ultrasound treatment of nano‐SiO2 on the stability of the polymerization reaction was investigated. Water‐resistance of the emulsion was measured. The level of nano‐SiO2 in the emulsion was determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry. The particle morphology of the emulsion with nano‐SiO2 was observed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The kinetics of the polymerization was also studied at various temperatures and various levels of nano‐SiO2. They showed that the level of nano‐SiO2 and reaction temperature had a great influence on the monomer conversion, particle size, coagulum content and viscosity of the emulsion. Nano‐SiO2 treated by ultrasonics can increase the coagulum content greatly, but it does not improve the water resistance of the emulsion. The level of nano‐SiO2 in the emulsion was lower than the theoretical value. The reaction kinetics indicated that the level of nano‐SiO2 had less influence on the reaction rate than the reaction temperature. Even a small amount of nano‐SiO2 can decrease the reaction rate. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry |