Chain propagation emulsion polymerization

Copolymers with butadiene, ie, those containing at least 60 wt % butadiene, are an important family of mbbers. In addition to synthetic mbber, these compositions have extensive uses as paper coatings, water-based paints, and carpet backing. Because of unfavorable reaction kinetics in a mass system, these copolymers are made in an emulsion polymerization system, which favors chain propagation but not termination (199). The result is economically acceptable rates with desirable chain lengths. Usually such processes are mn batchwise in order to achieve satisfactory particle size distribution. 

Many emulsion polymerizations can be described by so-called zero-one kinetics. These systems are characterized by particle sizes that are sufficiently small dial entry of a radical into a particle already containing a propagating radical always causes instantaneous termination. Thus, a particle may contain either zero or one propagating radical. The value of n will usually be less than 0.4. In these systems, radical-radical termination is by definition not rate determining. Rates of polymerization are determined by the rates or particle entry and exit rather than by rates of initiation and termination. The main mechanism for exit is thought to be chain transfer to monomer. It follows that radical-radical termination, when it occurs in the particle phase, will usually be between a short species (one that lias just entered) and a long species. 

Thus, a relatively large isotope effect can be expected if deuterated vinyl acetate is used for polymerization. Since the degree of polymerization for vinyl acetate equals k /k j the ratio of the rate constant for propagation to that tor chain transfer, the degree of polymerization should express the full isotope effeet. It known that in emulsion polymerization,... 

The "ideal" concept of emulsion polymerization was built on the assumption that the monomer was water insoluble and that in the absence of chain transfer, the number average degree of polymerization, Xj can be related to the rate processes of initiation and propagation by the steady-state relationship Xjj = 2 Rp/Rj. Since Ri and Rp are both constant and termination is assumed to be Instantaneous during the constant rate period described by Smith-Ewart kinetics, the above equation predicts the generation of constant molecular weight polymer. Data has been obtained which agrees with Smith-Ewart but there is... 

The first comprehensive theory of the MWD in an emulsion polymerization system was given by Katz et al. (1969). These authors considered a monodisperse system in which the only mechanisms operating were free-radical entry, chain propagation, and bimolecular termination by combination. They defined a distribution function Pj(fe,Mi,M2,...,M,), as the... 

The kinetics of emulsion polymerization is complex, involving a large number of species and at least two phases. The first quantitative approach to emulsion polymerization kinetics led to extensions by many others.The important events to consider are 1) the free-radical reactions of chain formation initiation, propagation, chain transfer, and termination and 2) the phase transfer events that control particle formation radical entry into particles from the aqueous phase, radical exit into the aqueous phase, radical entry into micelles, and the aqueous phase coil-globule transition. In free-radical emulsion polymerization, the fundamental steps are shown schematically in Fig. 1... 

Smith and Ewart (13a. 13b) quantified the Harkins theory by the equation R = k MpN/2 where Rp is the rate of propagation, kp is the rate constant for propagation, M is the monomer concentration in growing chain particles, and N the number of polymer particles per unit volume. If M is the constant, this equation is reduced to R = k N. Thus, the rate of emulsion polymerization should solely be a function of the number of polymer particles. In actuality, the reaction rate increases up to 20-25% conversion because of the increase in the number of growing radical chains then the rate steadies as does the number of polymer particles up to 70-80% conversion. Beyond this point, the rate drops off because of low monomer concentration. Thus, as Talamini (13c. 13d) has noted, available evidence indicates that emulsion polymerization of vinyl chloride does not resemble true emulsion polymerization as described by Smith and Ewart, but shows the general behavior of heterogeneous polymerization. 

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