Acrylic latices stabilized by polymerizable non‐ionic surfactant

The final latex particle size is controlled by the concentration of polymerizable non-ionic surfactant NE-40 in the emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA). The particle size decreases with increasing NE-40 concentration and increases with increasing persulphate initiator concentration. The dependence of particle size on the initiator concentration does not follow conventional Smith-Ewart theory, which is attributed to the bridging flocculation process during the particle nucleation period. The differences in the particle nucleation and growth stages and colloidal stability observed in the NE-40 and nonyl phenol-40 mol ethylene oxide adduct (NP-40) stabilized systems can be attributed to the different distribution patterns of surfactant molecules in the particles. Experimental data also indicate that the particle size decreases with increasing electrolyte concentration, or agitation speed. The total scrap, presumably caused by the bridging flocculation process, increases rapidly with increase in the NaCl concentration. The amount of large flocs formed during polymerization is generally greater for the run operated at higher agitation speed. As expected, the latex products stabilized by non-ionic surfactants show excellent stability toward added sodium salt.