Polymerization of tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate in three-component anionic microemulsions

Abstract

Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFM) polymerizes at 60 0 C when initiated with potassium persulfate in three-component microemulsions made with Aerosol-OT (AOT) and water. The resulting monodisperse microlatex contains particles with mean diameters from 25 to 34 nm and polymer molecular weights of order 107. Each particle consists of approximately one polymer molecule in a collapsed state. Polymerization kinetics are followed by calorimetry, dilatometry, and internal reflectance infrared spectroscopy. Reaction rate curves show two intervals only: an interval of increasing rate immediately followed by an interval of decreasing rate. Weight-average molecular weight as measured by size-exclusion chromatography and particle size as measured by quasielastic light scattering increase during polymerization. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows the in situ formation of lamellar and multilamellar structures when excess AOT from micelles depleted of monomer exceeds its solubility in water. These findings confirm that latex particles grow by recruiting monomer from uninitiated microemulsion droplets.

Tensile Properties of Self‐Crosslinkable Poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐N‐methylolacrylamide) Films Prepared by Emulsion and Microemulsion Latexes

“…[16,17] However, the mechanism of polymerization is different for the two processes and often, polymers with different characteristics or morphology from the ones produced by emulsion polymerization are obtained by microemulsion polymerization. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Recently, Krishnan et al reported the synthesis of copolymers of n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) and NMA in the presence of varying amounts of CBr 4 by a two-stage emulsion polymerization process, which had negligible crosslinking before curing and produced high gel content on thermal curing. [25] They examined the characteristics of the films but no mechanical properties were reported.…”

Monomer compartmentalisation in miniemulsion polymerisation studied by infrared spectroscopy

“…Recent technological advancements such as diamond-composite technology for sensor elements and light conduit technology have enabled the use of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for real-time, in situ polymerisation monitoring. Commercially available reaction monitoring systems have been employed for monitoring of conversion and composition in a variety of polymerisations in solution [5,6], emulsion [7,8], and microemulsion [9]. They have also been used for living cationic polymerisation monitoring [10,11].…”

In‐Situ Kinetic Pursuit of Emulsion Crosslinking Copolymerizations of Monomethacrylate and Dimethacrylate by Means of ReactIR®

“…[4] Moreover, an in-line fiber-optic diffuse reflectance probe was used to monitor the emulsion polymerization of styrene by means of near-infrared spectroscopy. [5,6] Experimental Part MMA, BMA, EDMA, and HDDMA, supplied by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd., were purified by conventional methods and then subjected to vacuum distillation under nitrogen.…”