Miniemulsion polymerization compartmentalization effects

Heterogeneous polymerization processes (emulsion, miniemulsion, nonaqueous dispersion) offer another possibility for reducing the rate of termination through what are known as compartmentalization effects. In emulsion polymerization, it is... 

Experimental evidence showed compartmentalization in ATRP miniemulsions reduced polymerization rate (confined space effect), and more importantly, improved control over the polymerization " when the number of chains was small (high target Mn) for the system CuBr/EHAeTREN-n-butyl methacrylate. While in a conventional emulsion polymerization, segregation effects cause an increase in the rate, in ATRP, the confined space effect dominates the kinetics and results in a decrease in rate. 

Bon and Colver showed that the surface location of clay influenced the overall polymerization kinetics and Pickering miniemulsion polymerizations of styrene in the presence of clay showed compartmentalization. Moreover, retardation effects up to intermediate monomer conversions were observed they were more prominent for the smaller particles and were ascribed to the Laponite clay. 

---