Summary: The number (N) and size distribution of particles (PSD) of a styrene emulsion polymerization above the CMC were studied by means of asymmetric flow‐field flow fractionation (AF4). Bimodal PSDs were obtained, suggesting that coagulation of the primary particles is not as extensive as would be expected, according to the coagulative mechanism. AF4 allowed it to be demonstrated that N is constant during interval II, and that the resolution limit of other particle sizing techniques can lead to erroneous mechanistic inferences, from the evolution of N.
Particle size distribution measured at low conversion for the emulsion polymerization of styrene, obtained by AF4 and DLS. The initial surfactant (S0), initiator (I0) and monomer (M0) concentrations are indicated in the figure.
