Preparation of PMMA nanolatex via microemulsion polymerization initiated by UV direct radiation at low temperature

Abstract

By combining the microemulsion polymerization with UV direct initiation, an efficient polymerization method was developed due to its advantages in terms of high polymerization rate and conversion, lower polymerization temperature, high purity polymer. To be more specific, in the absence of initiator and under UV direct radiation, the polymerizations of MMA/Water/emulsifier microemulsion system were successfully accomplished at low temperature (26 ∼ 35°C) and PMMA nanolatex with the average diameter of 9.5 nm and narrow diameter distribution was obtained. The effects of UV intensity, monomer concentration, emulsifier concentration and temperature on polymerization rate and intrinsic viscosity of polymer were researched. The apparent activation energy of the reaction and polymerization kinetics of Rp are obtained as the following: Rp∝[IUV] 1.25[M]1.04[E]−2.57, Ea=14.45KJ/mol.