Particle Nucleation under Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) in Emulsion Polymerization of Styrene and Its application in High Solid Content Latex

By : Yanping He, Taotao Cheng, Yanlin Sun, Linhua Zhu, Tian Si, Hong Wang

Page No: 375-389

Abstract
Polystyrene latex was prepared under CMC to explore particle nucleation and the key to control particle number (Np) of latex. The monomer conversion, solid content, Np, particle size (PS) and surfactant surface coverage (q ) were studied as a function of surfactant concentration [S]. It was found that particle nucleation evolved from precipitation nucleation domination to micellar nucleation domination under CMC by increasing [S]. The contribution ratio on monomer conversion by precipitation nucleation was 21% compared with that by micellar nucleation. Np increased by increasing [S] and the regulation range on Np by micellar and precipitation nucleation was about 1-42. The conclusion on Np provided guidance to prepare bimodal high solid content (HSC) polystyrene latex by using a one-step process. Bimodal polystyrene emulsion with a solid content of 61.9 wt.% and a viscosity of 590 mPa.s was created successfully by using the strategy.

Authors :
Yanping He, Taotao Cheng, Yanlin Sun, Linhua Zhu And Tian Si : School of Chemical Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Chenggong Campus, Kunming, Yunan, 650504, China
Hong Wang : Faculty of Science, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Chenggong Campus, Kunming, Yunan, 650504, China