Abstract
In miniemulsion polymerization, droplet nucleation is the key factor to ensure the production of polymer particles with a desired composition. The influence of the initiation on droplet nucleation is conflicting and it has not been completely considered. The result of employing different initiator systems on the nucleation mechanism and kinetics in the polymerization of stable styrene/polystyrene miniemulsions with varied droplet size is discussed here. The initiation systems employed provide all combinations between the phase (aqueous or organic) where initiation mainly occurs and the phase affinity of the produced radicals. Latexes with different contributions of droplet nucleation were synthesized according to the employed initiation system and the droplet size of the miniemulsion. The results presented here could be used as a guide for choosing the initiation system to achieve the required contribution of droplet nucleation.
Miniemulsion polymerization; Particle nucleation; Polystyrene
