Styrenic surfmer in emulsion copolymerization of acrylic monomers. II. Copolymerization and film properties

Polymerizable styrenic surfactants (surfmers) and nonreactive analogs, have been applied in emulsion copolymerization of acrylic monomers in a seeded semibatch process. Stable core-shell latexes with low levels of coagulum an d controlled particle size have been obtained; some of them, with either st eric or electrosteric stabilization, display excellent stability to electro lytes, freeze-thaw cycles, and shear flocculation. In addition, the reactiv e surfactants lead to films with superior performance due to reduced migrat ion of surfactant to the surface (contact angle measurements) and dimension al stability when the films are dipped in water, as well as less water upta ke. Some differences also appear in particle morphologies. (C) 1999 John Wi ley & Sons, Inc.