Bimodal molecular weight distribution formed in emulsion crosslinking copolymerization

A bimodal molecular weight distribution, first predicted theoretically in t he Monte Carlo simulation of emulsion crosslinking copolymerization [Macrom olecules 27 (1994) 3389], is now confirmed experimentally in emulsion copol ymerization of styrene/divinylbenzene, by setting the number of divinylbenz ene molecules per primary chain ca. 5. It was found that the locations of t hese two peaks can be controlled independently, i.e. the location of high m olecular weight peak is controlled by the particle size, while that for low molecular weight peak is controlled by the chain lengths of the primary po lymer molecules. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ah rights reserved.