Polymerization of vinyl acetate in homogeneous systems obtained in presence of acrylic acid

The composition ranges over which microemulsions are formed in systems cont aining vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, water with nonylphenol ethoxylated with 25 mol ethylene oxide monomaleate as surfactant were studied. Conductometr ic and refractometric investigations have shown the existence of some aqueo us/organic, bicontinuous and organic/aqueous microemulsions. The types of p recursor microemulsions influence the conversion of monomers. In the presen ce of a crosslinking agent, diethylene glycol bis maleate, hydrogels are fo rmed whose water absorption depends on the composition of the initial micro emulsions. The kinetics of water absorption suggests the modification of po lymer network structures as a function of the crosslinked monomer content a nd the ratio of organic to aqueous phases.