PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION OF BUTYL ACRYLATE IN DIRECT EMULSIFIER-MIXED MICELLES

The oil in water (o/w) microemulsion polymerizations of butyl acrylate photoinitiated by UV light were investigated. The rate - conversion c urve showed two rate intervals with the maximum rate cat at 10% - 20% conversion. The final conversion varied with the emulsifier type in th e range from 70% to 95%. The rate of polymerization was found to incre ase in the presence of anionic emulsifiers and decreased in the presen ce of nonionic emulsifiers. The molecular weights were independent of the emulsifier type. The photolysis of the monomer swollen emulsifier micelles led to the formation of initiating radicals.