| Abstract: | Polystyrene Latexes were synthesized using sodium ricinoleate (the ehief saponification product of castor oil) as the surfactant. Later sulfur, more sodium ricinoleate, and sometimes castor oil were added, and the emulsion heated to a temperature where the sulfur vulcanized the castor oil products, making a semi-interpenetrating polymer network. Stress-strain studies showed the presence of a well developed yield point and high elongation for some samples, indicating considerable toughening for slow rates of strain. Electron microscopy revealed a complex two-phased morphology. Usually polystyrene was the continuous phase. The rubbery phase domain size depended upon the amount of castor oil products added lzod impact strengths showed only modest improvements; probably because of the high glass transition temperature of the castor oil vulcanizate. |
