Notes: Polymer-Water Interaction in Emulsion Copolymerization of Vinyl Acetate

Abstract

In the case of copolymer latexes of vinyl acetate with maleic diesters, the amount of water bound to particles decreases with the increase of comonomer hydrophobicity. Increasing the concentration of bound water for more polar polymers determines a decrease of free water concentration. Therefore, the concentration of free surfactant and initiator in free water is higher and results in an increase of decomposition rate of potassium persulfate initiator. The increase of more polar copolymers hydration results in the increase of latex particle size.