SEEDED EMULSION TERPOLYMERIZATION OF DIMETHYL META-ISOPROPENYL BENZYLISOCYANATE (TMI(R)) WITH ACRYLIC-MONOMERS

Dimethyl meta-isopropenyl benzyl isocyanate (TMI(R)) is a novel bifunc tional monomer. It has a double bond and an isocyanate group. The seed ed emulsion terpolymerization of TMI with the acrylic monomers, methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate, has been studied. A copolymer of m ethyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate was used as the seed latex. In order to minimize the risk of hydrolysis of TMI, polymerizations were carried out at 40 degrees C using redox initiators. No additional sur factant was added during the second-stage polymerization in order to a void the nucleation of secondary particles. TMI was found to retard th e polymerization kinetics. The effect of variables, such as the total number of particles, initiator concentration, and the monomer feed rat e on polymerization kinetics, was investigated. The composition of the second-stage polymer could be controlled by running the polymerizatio n under monomer-starved conditions. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.