Effect of a Reactive Surfactant and Its Polymeric Counterpart on the Kinetics of Seeded Emulsion Polymerization of Styrene

Abstract

Seeded emulsion polymerizations of styrene using the reactive surfactant sodium dodecyl ally sulfosuccinate (TREM LF-40) and its polymeric counterpart, poly(TREM), were carried out, and their reaction kinetics were compared to those obtained using the conventional surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). The reaction rate decreased using TREM LF-40 and poly(TREM), compared to SLS. For TREM LF-40, this behavior was attributed to the participation of TREM LF-40 as an allylic monomer in copolymerization and/or chain transfer reactions at the surface of the particles. For poly(TREM), the decrease was considered to be caused by the formation of a “hairy” adsorbed layer of the polymeric surfactant on the particles, which acts as a barrier decreasing the diffusion of the radicals into the particles. It was also found that the rate decreased with increasing TREM LF-40 concentration as expected, this being attributed to increased reaction at the surface of the particles with increasing surface coverage by the surfa...