Studies on the preparation and characterisation of monodisperse polystyrene latices

Abstract

Recent developments have led to the preparation of polymer latices in the size range 0.1–1.0 µ m in the absence of added surface active agents. A method has now been developed using an extension of this procedure to prepare latices with sizes in the range 1 to 4 µ m. The method involves the polymerization of monomer in the presence of seed latex particles. Data are also presented for the rate of swelling of latex particles by monomer and for the rate of swelling of polymer freshly deposited on to latex particles. Both processes were found to be too slow to give a satisfactory explanation of the kinetics of particle growth. However, from an examination of the variation of the seed number concentration at constant temperature, monomer, initiator and electrolyte conditions, it was concluded that the heterocoagulation of the freshly formed particles on to the seed particles constituted the basic particle growth mechanism. Reaction conditions are given for the preparation of ca. 1, 2 and 3.5 µ m monodisperse latices. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.