Polymerization of poorly water-soluble monomers in the presence of ethoxylated polyalkylene glycol Laprol 6003, an ethoxylated product of alcoholate copolymerization of propylene oxide with glycerol

Abstract

The paper shows the similarity of kinetic regularities of vinyl monomers polymerization in the presence of Laprol 6003, regardless of the degree of solubility of the monomers in water. It is assumed that this feature of polymerization is due to the same mechanism of formation of polymer-monomer particles (PMP) – from monomer microdroplets. The interfacial adsorption layer of PMPs, the main site of polymerization, is formed from a surfactant adsorbed from the bulk of the monomer phase and a polymer formed in the adsorption layer upon initiation of polymerization. The formation of complex structures in the interfacial adsorption layer of particles, the incompatibility of the surfactant and the resulting polymer, and high viscosity cause the formation of a strong interfacial layer that ensures the stability of polymer suspensions from the early stages of polymerization.