SYNTHESIS OF ION-FREE LATEX-PARTICLES COMPOSED OF POLYBUTADIENE AND POLY(VINYL PYRROLIDONE) AS POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MATERIALS

The synthesis of polybutadiene (PB) by emulsion polymerization with us e of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) stabilizer was investigated. The go al was to prepare flexible latex films that clearly retain particle mo rphology in the solid state after heat treatment and contain no ionic, hydroxyl, or (primary, secondary) amino groups. The latex particle co re composed of PB was nonpolar and rubbery, while the particle shell c omposed of PVP was polar and glassy. Average particle diameter was mea sured by the dynamic light scattering technique, and particles were im aged by scanning and transmission electron microscopic analyses. Dialy sis of the latices resulted in successful exchange of the dispersion m edium without precipitation. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.