SYNTHESIS IN MICROEMULSION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LOW CHARGE-DENSITYAMPHOLYTIC TERPOLYMERS

High molecular weight and low charge density ampholytic terpolymers ba sed on acrylamide (AM), as a neutral monomer, and sodium 2-(acrylamido )-2-methylpropanesulfonate (NaAMPS) and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trim ethylammonium chloride (MADQUAT) as charged monomers have been prepare d by a microemulsion polymerization technique. An optimization of the process for the selection of the different components of the microemul sion has been achieved by applying criteria based on the hydrophile-li pophile balance (HLB) and cohesive energy ratio concepts. Composition - conversion curves were determined for samples containing different m onomer feeds. The drifts observed in the terpolymer compositions with conversion were compared to those calculated from the reactivity ratio s determined in binary copolymerizations performed in solution and in microemulsion. The results show that the reactivity of the monomers in ternary systems depends on the ionic strength, i.e. on the monomer fe ed composition.