Summary of the Smith-Ewart Theory

The Smith and Ewart theory (the S-E theory) describes the basic concept of emulsion polymerization. Its main points are briefly reviewed here. Smith and Ewart showed that the rate of emulsion polymerization, which proceeds exclusively in the polymer particles, is given by 

On the other hand, they derived an expression that predicts the number of polymer particles produced, ATp, assuming that (i) a monomer-swollen emulsifier micelle is transformed into a polymer particle by capturing a free radical from the aqueous phase, (ii) the volumetric growth rate per particle p is constant, at least during particle formation, and (iii) free radical activity does not transfer out of a growing particle 

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