| Abstract: | Soap-free carboxylated polystyrene latexes have been prepared by copolymerizing acrylic acid (AA) in a wide range of degree of neutralization using a slight amount of soap, and the particle formation process was investigated from the number and uniformity of particles. It was found that the degree of neutralization of AA as well as the amount of AA have a great effect on the formation of particles. On the basis of the calculation results of the composition of the growing radical formed in the aqueous phase at the initial stage of the polymerization, the results can reasonable be explained by a change in the hydrophilic nature of growing radicals formed in the aqueous phase at the initial stage of the polymerization, the results can reasonably be explained by a change in the hydrophilic nature of growing radicals which are formed in the aqueous phase and precipitate out to form particles. It was also established that the introduction of α-methylstyrene or methyl methacrylate has a great effect on the formation of particles, which is consistent with the above-described considerations. |
