Mini-emulsion polymerisation

Mini-emulsion Tiny monomer droplets dispersed in continuous phase with surfactant and hydrophobic compound emulsions produced using high shear rates or ultrasound initiator dissolved in either monomer droplets or continuous phase Polymerisation initiated in mini-emulsion droplets each miniemulsion droplet behaves like a nanoreactor high rate of polymerisation Particles in the size range 5 500 nm, with a narrow size distributbn high molecular weight of resulting polymers composite or structured particbs can be obtained... [Pg.76]

Emulsion, mini-emulsion and micro-emulsion polymerisations... [Pg.77]

An ab initio emulsion polymerisation involves the emulsification of one or more monomers in a continuous aqueous phase and stabilisation of the droplets by a surfactant. In a seeded emulsion polymerisation, one starts instead with a preformed seed latex. Usually, a water-soluble initiator is used to start the free-radical polymerisation. The locus of polymerisation is within the submicron polymer particles (either formed during the process or added at the start), which are swollen with monomer during the polymerisation process, and dispersed in the aqueous phase. The final product is a latex comprising a colloidal dispersion of polymer particles in water. Ab initio emulsion polymerisation differs from suspension, mini- and microemulsion polymerisations in that the particles form as a separate phase during the polymerisation process. The particle size is much smaller than those formed in a suspension polymerisation. [Pg.47]