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Mechanism of alkali thickening of acid‐containing emulsion polymers. I. Examination of latexes by means of viscosity
Author(s) -
Verbrugge C. J.
Publication year - 1970
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/app.1970.070140403
Subject(s) - methacrylic acid , polymer chemistry , swelling , polymer , acrylate , styrene , emulsion polymerization , materials science , methyl methacrylate , ethyl acrylate , methacrylate , emulsion , particle (ecology) , butyl acrylate , chemical engineering , particle size , monomer , chemistry , copolymer , organic chemistry , composite material , oceanography , engineering , geology
Viscosity‐versus‐pH relationships for a large number of methacrylic acid‐containing emulsion polymers have been measured. The monomers chosen for this study were so selected because they represent synthesized latexes of high and low T g and comparative hydrophilicity. These were styrene, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, n ‐butyl acrylate, and 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate. The postulated mechanism involved in the transition from an unneutralized latex particle to the neutralized species is accounted for in terms of varying degrees of particle swelling. In the limiting case, particle swelling is followed by complete solution of the polymer. The most important variables are the per cent methacrylic acid and the polymer T g and hydrophilicity as determined by the comonomers present. The degree of particle swelling ranges from none for high styrene‐containing latexes to high degrees of swelling followed by polymer solubilization for high ethyl acrylate‐containing latexes.