Reactive surfactants in styrene microemulsion polymerization

Polymerization of styrene has been carried out in microemulsion using the s odium salt of the maleic dodecyl hemiester as surfactant and hydroxypropyl methacrylate as cosurfactant. In a limited range of composition, this syste m forms a transparent microemulsion, leading to small particles ranging bet ween from 15 to 30 nm of diameter. The stability of the system is dependent upon the ionic strength of the media. A model explaining how the limits in solid contents are dependent on the ionic strength is proposed. Fast polym erization with formation of very high molecular weight chains occurs. The c osurfactant is well copolymerized with the styrene, but the surfactant is s hown to be only partially incorporated.