Effects of Emulsifier Concentration on Nucleation Mode of Emulsion Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

Abstract:

The preparation of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) emulsions by semicontinuous dropping method is studied in this paper. The nucleation mode of emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) under different emulsifier (SDS) concentrations is investigated. Some factors such as conversion, particle number (Np), particle size (PS), polydispersion index (PDI) and coverage rate were examined. The results show that when [SD is close to the CMC (eg. 6mmol/L to 10mmol/L), micelle nucleation will dominates and homogeneous nucleation can coexist, and Np fluctuates. But when [SD is less than 4mmol/L, the homogeneous nucleation dominates and micelle nucleation may also coexist, but Np is constant. It can be concluded that whether the [SD is above or below the CMC, the homogeneous nucleation and micelle nucleation can coexist in the system, but different factors affect the particle number.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 395-396)
• Pages: 359-362
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.395-396.359
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Xiao Qin Xiao, Hong Wang*, Li Bao Mei, Yan Lin Sun
• Keywords: Emulsifier Concentration, Emulsion Polymerization, Homogeneous Nucleation, Micelle Nucleation

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