Polymerization of vinyl acetate in homogeneous systems obtained in presence of acrylic acid

The composition ranges over which microemulsions are formed in systems containing vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, water with nonylphenol ethoxylated with 25 mol ethylene oxide monomaleate as surfactant were studied. Conductometric and refractometric investigations have shown the existence of some aqueous/organic, bicontinuous and organic/aqueous microemulsions. The types of precursor microemulsions influence the conversion of monomers. In the presence of a crosslinking agent, diethylene glycol bis maleate, hydrogels are formed whose water absorption depends on the composition of the initial microemulsions. The kinetics of water absorption suggests the modification of polymer network structures as a function of the crosslinked monomer content and the ratio of organic to aqueous phases. Received: 4 March 1998 Accepted in revised form: 8 September 1998