GROWTH OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) PARTICLES IN 3-COMPONENT CATIONICMICROEMULSIONS

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been studied in ternar y microemulsions which were stabilized by tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) or stearyltrimethylammonium chloride (STAC). The sizes of MMA-swollen polymer particles (R(h)) increased continuously during polymerization. This is in contrast to that of the styrene system, whe re R(h) increased very rapidly to a maximum and then decreased continu ously towards a constant value. The continuous growth of PMMA particle s at 60 degrees C are discussed. The stability of PMMA latexes increas ed with increasing the hydrophobic chain length of the cationic surfac tant used. Traces of the coagulations of PMMA particles in the TTAB sy stem can be seen from TEM. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.