Sulfate surface groups

Polystyrene latexes have been prepared using persulfate initiator for many years, but only recently have methods been developed to determine the number and loci of the sulfate surface groups. To determine these surface groups, the latex is cleaned to remove the adsorbed emulsifier and solute electrolyte, then the surface sulfate groups in the H+ form are titrated conductometrically with base. The latexes can be cleaned effectively by ion exchange (2-5) or serum replacement (6) dialysis is not effective in removing the adsorbed emulsifier and solute electrolyte (3,5,6). +... 

Polystyrene Latexes. The polystyrene latexes used were the mono-disperse LS-1102-A, LS-1103-A, and LS-1166-B (Dow Chemical Co.) with average particle diameters of 190, 400, and llOOnm, respectively. The latexes were cleaned by ion exchange with mixed Dcwex 50W-Dowex 1 resin (9). The double-distilled and deionized (DDI) water used had a conductivity of 4x10 ohm- cm-. The surface groups of the ion-exchanged latexes determined by conductometric titration (10) were strong-acid sulfates the surface charge densities were 1.35, 3.00 and 5.95 jiC/cm, respectively. 

These results showed that monodisperse polystyrene particles prepared using persulfate initiator and bicarbonate buffer contain both sulfate and hydroxyl surface groups. Some sulfate groups are on the particle surface, while others are buried inside the particle. All of the hydroxyl groups are on the particle surface. These results also showed that careful control of the pH during polymerization can produce latex particles stabilized with only surface sulfate groups. 

Figure 2. Variation of electrophoretic mobility in distilled water with pH for polystyrene latex particles with different surface groups (1) 520 sulfate (2) 520 carboxyl (3) 520 hydroxyl (4) LS-1010-E sulfate (5) LS-1010-E hydroxyl.

Surface grafting of barium sulfate is interesting Ifom the point of view of the kinetics of such reactions. Barium sulfate like calcium carbonate, is an inert filler. So it is necessary to modify its surface. First, barium chloride is reacted with sodium sulfate in the presence of a small amount of sodium 12-hydroxystearate. This introduces a controlled number of hydroxyl stearate sites onto the barium sulfate surface. The reaction is followed by a redox graft polymerization of acrylamide initiated by the hydroxyl stearate groups and ceric ion as a catalyst. Figures 6.9 to 6.11 show the effect of reaction substrates concentrations on polymerization rate. 

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