Preparation of PEG-modified urethane acrylate emulsion and its emulsion polymerization

In order to improve stability and reduce droplet size, the PEG-modified urethane acrylates were synthesized by the reaction of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with residual isocyanate groups of urethane acrylate to incorporate hydrophilic groups into the molecular ends. The droplet sizes of the PEG-modified urethane acrylate emulsions were much smaller than those of unmodified urethane acrylate emulsions at the same surfactant composition, and the droplet sizes of these emulsions were significantly effected not by surfactant compositions and types, but by the reaction molar ratio of PEG, because the urethane acrylate containing polyoxyethylene groups as terminal groups aided the interfacial activity of surfactant molecules and acted as a polymeric surfactant. The actions of PEG-modified urethane acrylate were confirmed by the investigation of adsorption of urethane acrylate in a water/benzene interface.For polymerization of emulsions, the stability of emulsion in the process of emulsion polymerization was changed by the type of surfactant or initiator. In the case of emulsion polymerization with a water soluble initiator (K₂S₂O₈), the emulsions prepared using TWEEN 60 were broken in the process of polymerization. However, polymerization of these emulsions could be carried out using an oil soluble initiator (AIBN). The conversion of emulsion polymerization changed with the type of urethane acrylates, that is, the reaction molar ratio of PEG to 2-HEMA.