Synthesis of saccharidic polymer colloids via free radical mini‐emulsion polymerization

Polymer colloids based on 3‐O‐methacryloyl‐1,2:5,6‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐D ‐glucofuranose (3‐MDG) and butyl acrylate (BA) were prepared via free radical mini‐emulsion polymerization. The kinetic and colloidal features of the copolymerization were investigated. The final particle size (D) of the sugar latexes is inversely proportional to the concentration of the anionic emulsifier (sodium dodecyl sulphate, SDS) and the non‐ionic one (alkyl polyglucoside, APG). It was also found that D is independent of the concentration of either the water‐soluble initiator (potassium persulfate, KPS), or the oil‐soluble initiator (2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile, AIBN). The rate of mini‐emulsion polymerization is lower in comparison with the conventional emulsion polymerization under the same conditions. The polymerization rate (R_p) and the total number of particles (N_p) are proportional to the 0.72th and 0.93th power of the SDS, and to the 1.40th and 2.22th of the APG concentration. Following reaction orders, 0.79/0.06 were obtained for R_p/N_p versus the concentration of KPS, and 0.22/?0.01 for AIBN, respectively. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.