COPOLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE WITH NONIONIC SURFACTANTS - POLY(ETHYLENEOXIDE) MACROMONOMERS

A series of macromonomers of omega-methoxy poly(ethylene oxide), undec yl-alpha-methacrylate (PEO-R-MA-n, where n = 10, 15, 40) was synthesiz ed. The copolymerization of styrene (M(1)) with the macromonomers (M(2 )) was carried out in benzene solution and in an emulsion. The apparen t reactivity (1/r(1)) of the macromonomer decreased with an increase o f its PEO chain length. The results are discussed in terms of the inco mpatibility between PEO macromonomer and polystyryl radicals. Stable e mulsion latices with monodisperse particles were obtained from the cop olymerization of styrene with PEO-R-MA-40. The particle sizes ranged f rom about 30 to 300 nm in diameter depending on the amount of styrene used and the PEO chain length of the macromonomer. The molecular weigh ts of the copolymers produced by the emulsion copolymerization of PEO- R-MA-40 with styrene were around half a million, and their molecular w eight distributions (<(M)over bar (w)>/<(M)over bar (n)>) were relativ ely narrow (1.6-1.9) as determined by gel-permeation chromatography.