ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Emulsifier and Initiator Effects on the Emulsion Copolymerization of Styrene with Butyl Acrylate

V. Chrástová, S. Ďuračková, J. Mrenica, and L. Černáková

Department of Plastics and Rubber, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Slovak University of Technology, SK-812 37 Bratislava

Abstract: The emulsion copolymerization of styrene with butyl acrylate in the presence of anionic and nonionic emulsifier, initiated by potassium peroxodisulfate with or without activator was kinetically investigated. The reaction order with respect to initiator K₂S₂O₈ and to the initiator with Na₂S₂O₄. 2H₂O activator was 0.47 and 0.71, respectively. Examination of the influence of anionic Mersol H and nonionic Slovasol 2430 emulsifier on the course of copolymerization showed that the nonionic emulsifier influences the rate of copolymerization in higher degree. Reaction order of the copolymerization rate in terms of Mersol H and Slovasol 2430 concentration was 0.83 and 1.17, respectively The effect of nonionic emulsifier in the concentration region over its critical micellar concentration on the decomposition rate constant of K₂S₂O₈ at 60°C was studied. It eras shown that the nonionic emulsifier at the used concentration (from 0.22 x 10^-2 to 5.80 x 10^-2 mol dm^-3) accelerates the decomposition of peroxide. The change of the decomposition rate constant of initiator is higher up to the concentration of emulsifier 1.45 x 10^-2 mol dm^-3 than in the range from 1.45 x 10^-2 to 5.80 x 10^-2 mol dm^-3, what is the concentration region of Slovasol 2430 in the investigated copolymerization system.

Full paper in Portable Document Format: 532a140.pdf

Chemical Papers 53 (2) 140–144 (1999)