The polymerization of vinyl acetate in one-phase o/w microemulsions stabilized with Aerosol OT (AOT)
is examined as a function of concentration and type of initiator (V-50 and KPS) and temperature. Conversions
and reaction rates increase with increasing concentration of V-50 and temperature. Faster polymerization
rates and higher conversions are achieved with KPS because of the different electrostatic interactions
between the charged microemulsion droplets and the free radicals of KPS and V-50. Average molar masses
and polydispersity indexes (M̄
w/M̄
n) are much smaller than those observed in emulsion polymerization
using the same surfactant, even at high conversions. Analysis of the molar mass distribution indicates
that chain-transfer reactions to monomer are the controlling chain-growth mechanism in the polymerization
of vinyl acetate in AOT microemulsions at all conversions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.