FEATURES OF STYRENE AND METHYL-METHACRYLA TE POLYMERIZATION INITIATEDBY MANGANESE(III) TRIS-ACETYLACETONATE IN TWEEN-STABILIZED EMULSIONS

The kinetics of styrene and methyl methacrylate polymerization initiat ed by manganese(III) trisacetylacetonate in emulsions stabilized by ox yethylated esters of anhydrosorbite and fatty acids was studied in the range of 293 - 333 K. The rate of polymerization exhibits a nonmonoto nic temperature dependence in the presence of Tween-4O, which is cause d by changes in the structure and dimensions of micelles. The polymeri zation occurs either in droplets of monomer dispersion or in adsorbed layers of emulsifier, and passes through a stage of colloidal dissolut ion of monomers. Polymerization in the droplets of monomer dispersion leads to the formation of finely dispersed polymer powders with partic le sizes ranging from 20 to 170 mu m.