The Influence of Surfactant and Protective Colloid on Polyvinyl Acetate Emulsion Synthesized by Emulsion Polymerization Technique

Abstract

A series of experiments have been carried out and reported. This report describes the stages of the polymerization reaction during emulsion Polyvinyl Acetate (PVAc) synthesis. PVAc was synthesized from the Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) with Ammonium Peroxydisulphate (APS) as an inorganic thermal initiator in the aqueous media under reaction temperature was keep at 65 until 75oCs by agitation speed was 300 rpm respectively during 4 hours of reaction time. The protective colloid agents and several types of surfactants were added to improve the obtained emulsion PVAc performance. The polymerization reaction was carried out without the addition of a protective colloid agent. The surfactants were produced the emulsion PVAc with the properties of solid content 0.89%, density 1.02 g/ml, viscosity 0.0033 Poise, pH 2.8, conductivity 12 ms, respectively. While the polymerization reaction involved protective colloid agents by using Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVOH) was obtained properties of emulsion PVAc with Solid Content 4.36%, density 1.17 g/ml, viscosity 0.0216 Poise, pH 2.8, and conductivity 10 ms respectively. The same thing was shown when the surfactant was present in the polymerization reaction. The emulsion PVAc was synthesized with nonionic surfactant has solid content 8.20%, density 1.17 g/ml, viscosity 0.0099 Poise, pH 2.8, and conductivity 7 ms, the result is better rather than synthesized with anionic surfactant has solid content 2.65%, density 1.13 g/ml, viscosity 0.0068 Poise, pH 2.8, and conductivity 11 ms. According to the preliminary observations obtained, emulsion PVAc’s appearance is better when the protective colloid agents and the surfactant is present rather than without additional those substances. The physical properties of emulsion were depended on the addition of protective colloid agents and surfactants. In addition, the complete reaction indicated by solid content value was obtained from emulsion when the additional substances were present. All the testing parameters were observed using Viscometer Ostwald, Pycnometer, pH Meter, FTIR Spectrophotometer, Conductometer, and another supporting testing to explain the polymerization reaction stage of synthesis emulsion PVAc.