Synthesis and characterization of poly(n-hexyl methacrylate) in three-component microemulsions

The polymerization of n-hexyl methacrylate in three-component microemulsion s stabilized with dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide is examined here as a fu nction of the concentration of a water-soluble (V-50) and an oil-soluble (2 ,2-azobisisobutyronitrile) initiators, of monomer concentration in the pare nt microemulsions and temperature. At high temperatures and high initiator concentrations, only two reaction rate intervals are observed; however, at low temperatures and low initiator concentrations, a slow rate period is ob served whose duration increases as the temperature or the initiator concent ration diminish. This slow rate period appears to be due to homogeneous nuc leation. Particle size of polymer particles is small and remains constant t hroughout the reaction. Molar mass is high and also remains constant throug hout the reaction. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.