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Influences of initiators and cosurfactants on microemulsion polymerization of vinyltoluene
Author(s) -
Santhanalakshmi J.,
Anandhi K.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19960418)60:3<293::aid-app2>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - microemulsion , polymerization , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , chemistry , materials science , polymer science , organic chemistry , polymer , pulmonary surfactant , engineering
Influences of various cosurfactants (CS) ( n ‐alcohols and bifunctional alcohols) and initiators (hydrophilic potassiumperoxodisulphate; ammoniumperoxodisulphate and hydrophobic azobisisobutyronitrile; benzoylperoxide) on the polymerization of vinyltoluene–sodium do‐decylsulphate–water–CS microemulsions (oil/water μ E s) are studied with respect to the rates of polymerization, molecular weight of polymer, number, and size of polymer particles and energy of activation ( E a ). Laser Raman spectroscopy and dilatometry are employed to study the kinetics. Smith Ewart Case II hypothesis seems to be followed in the vinyltoluene μ E polymerization. Stable polymer microlatices with high molecular weights (>10 6 ) are obtained and particle sizes are found to lie within 10–50 nm as observed from the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) photographs. E a values varied with different cosurfactants and were found to be comparable with other monomers. Studies of the effects of pH, salt (Na 2 SO 4 ), and inhibitor (hydroquinone) on the microemulsion polymerization showed that optimum pH = 7.0. Higher rates were seen in the absence of salt, and chain transfers to inhibitors take place. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.