Some Peculiarities of Formation of Acrylate Latexes by Emulsifier-free Emulsion Polymerization
Emulsion polymerization of alkylacrylates and its copolymerization with some water-soluble monomers (metacrylic acid, acrylonitrile) in the absence of emulsifier were investigated by means of dilatometry and the turbidity spectrym method. The feasibility of synthesis of stable polymeric dispersions under specially selected conditions by temperature, concentration of the initiator (ammonium persulfate), presence and nature of comonomers is shown. The mechanisms of formation and stabilization of latex particles are discussed. The particles can be stabilized by end-groups of macromolecules, surfactant oligomers (capable of acting as emulgators), polar-groups of comonomers.