Modified structural model for predicting particle size in the microemulsion and emulsion polymerization of styrene under microwave irradiation

In this study, the microemulsion and emulsion polymerization of styrene at 70 degrees C in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, surfactant) and potassium persulfate (KPS, initiator) was conducted under microwave radiation. Laser light scattering was used to characterize the resultant polystyrene latex particles formed at different polymerization stages. The influence of the initial emulsion composition, that is, the SDS, KPS, and styrene concentrations, on the final particle size led us to a simple modified structural model in which we considered the stabilization effects of both the surfactant and the ionic end groups generated from the initiator. This model extended the application of the previous Wu plot from microemulsion polymerization to emulsion polymerization. Using this model, we were not only able to control the particle size but were also able to predict the monomer concentration dependence of the number of the resultant latex particles and the effect of diluting the reaction mixture on the resultant particle size.