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Semi‐Batch Emulsion Copolymerization of Vinyl Acetate and Butyl Acrylate Using Oligomeric Nonionic Surfactants
Author(s) -
Lazaridis Nikos,
Alexopoulos Aleck H.,
Kiparissides Costas
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3935(20010801)202:12<2614::aid-macp2614>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - emulsion polymerization , polymer chemistry , vinyl acetate , chemistry , ammonium persulfate , acrylate , copolymer , pulmonary surfactant , monomer , butyl acrylate , emulsion , alkyl , particle size , polymerization , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , polymer , biochemistry , engineering
Detailed kinetic studies on semi‐batch emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate/butyl acrylate (VAc/BuA) (80 : 20) at 80°C were carried out using alkyl polyglucoside nonionic surfactants and ammonium persulfate as initiator. The polymerization recipe was varied with respect to the amount of initiator initially charged and continuously fed to the reactor, the surfactant concentration, the electrolyte concentration, and the monomer addition rate. Various types of alkyl polyglucosides with different hydrophilic and hydrophobic chain lengths were tested. Latex particle stabilization was shown to depend significantly on the surfactant structure and its adsorption characteristics. In general, the latex particle size distribution evolved from a bimodal to a unimodal distribution while latex destabilization was observed at high surfactant or/and high initiator concentrations. Based on experimental observations it was found that the most important factor for imparting particle stability was the hydrophilic/hydrophobic chain length ratio of the surfactant which actually controlled the balance between surface coverage and stabilizing capability.