PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND USE IN EMULSION POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLATED ALKYL ETHOXYLATE SURFACE-ACTIVE MONOMERS

A range of commercially available alkyl ethoxylates with different hyd rophobes and degrees of ethoxylation have been acrylated to produce st ructurally analogous polymerizable surfactants. The latter have been p olymerized in water using a photochemical free radical initiating syst em to yield a mixture of linear soluble oligomer and crosslinked polym er. The starting amphiphiles, their acrylate derivatives and their sol uble oligomers have been extensively characterized in terms of their m olecular structure and their amphiphilic properties. The latter have b een discussed in terms of the molecular structure of the series of mol ecules. Selected examples of the alkyl ethoxylates and their acrylate derivatives have been compared as sole emulsion stabilizers in the pol ymerization (separately) of styrene, methyl methacrylate and vinyl ace tate. In general the conventional surfactants provide better stability , though both an acrylated derivative and its precursor surfactant per form well in styrene polymerizations. The effect of added electrolyte in flocculation studies confirms the superiority of the conventional s urfactant. The results are discussed in terms of current colloid and e mulsion polymerization theories and practice, and suggestions are made for the improved design of polymerizable amphiphiles.