FORMULATION AND POLYMERIZATION OF MICROEMULSIONS CONTAINING A MIXTUREOF CATIONIC AND ANIONIC MONOMERS

A series of polyampholytes of sodium-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfo nate (NaAMPS) and 2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyltrimethylammonium chloride (MADQUAT) has been synthesized by free radical polymerization in micro emulsions. The optimization of the formulation was, by a selection pro cedure, based on the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) of the nonioni c surfactants and solubility parameters of the different components. B oth ionomers play an important role in the formulation owing to their amphiphilic and electrolyte characters as confirmed by surface tension and turbidimetry experiments. These effects control the HLB and inter facial properties of the microemulsions. The results are semi-quantita tively interpreted from the cohesive energy ratio (CER) concept. The r eaction products are stable inverse latexes consisting of high molecul ar weight copolymers entrapped in water droplets particles and dispers ed in an isoparaffinic oil.