Structural effects of a novel polymeric emulsifier - SSIPM modified tetracarboxylic acid terminated polyester on the emulsion polymerization of butylmethacrylate

A novel polymeric emulsifier, SMTAPE, was prepared by end-capping sulfopoly ester polyol with TMA in this study. This polymeric emulsifier is applied f or BMA emulsion polymerization. Also investigated herein is how SMTAPE's ch emical structures, e.g. SSIPM contents and molecular weights, influence the behavior of emulsion polymerization and subsequent PBMA lattices. Experime ntal results indicate that SMTAPE emulsifiers with a shorter average hydrop hobic length stabilize the PBMA latex by the depletion mechanism. Although possessing good mechanical stability, using those emulsifiers has a higher coagulum during the synthesis stage. However, the SMTAPE emulsifiers with a longer average hydrophobic length anchor strongly on the PBMA latex partic les and stabilize them by an electrostatic force with a negligible amount o f steric stabilization. Although possessing better synthesis stability, usi ng these emulsifiers has a poor mechanical stability. In addition, accordin g to these experimental results, formation of the subsequent PBMA latex is attributed to a coagulation process of particle precursors, micellar partic les as well as existing PBMA latex particles. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.