Seeded semibatch emulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate: Effect of the chain-transfer agent on the kinetics and structural properties

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry Vol. 39; no. 7; pp. 1106 - 1119
• Main Authors: Plessis, Christophe, Arzamendi, Gurutze, Leiza, Jose R., Alberdi, Juan M., Schoonbrood, Harold A. S., Charmot, Dominique, Asua, Jose M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-04-2001; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; branching; chain-transfer agent; dodecane-1-thiol; emulsion polymerization; Exact sciences and technology; gel; mathematical modeling; n-butyl acrylate; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; semibatch; Polymerization modifier; Adhesivity; Thiol; Molecular weight distribution; Molecular structure; Butyl acrylate polymer; Experimental study; Seeded polymerization; Modeling; Structure processing relationship; Kinetic model; Free radical polymerization; Emulsion polymerization; Concentration effect; Surface properties; Semicontinuous
• ISSN: 0887-624X; 1099-0518
• DOI: 10.1002/1099-0518(20010401)39:7<1106::AID-POLA1088>3.0.CO;2-M

The effect of dodecane‐1‐thiol on the kinetics, gel fraction, level of branches, and sol molecular weight distribution of the seeded semibatch emulsion polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate carried out at 75 °C was investigated. The gel fraction was strongly affected by the content of the chain‐transfer agent (CTA). The sol weight‐average molecular weights decreased with increasing CTA concentration, whereas no effect on the kinetics and the level of branches was observed. The experimental data were analyzed with a mathematical model of the process that was able to catch fairly well the effect of the process variable. In addition, adhesive tests were carried out to check the effect of the gel fraction on the adhesive properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1106–1119, 2001
The effect of dodecane‐1‐thiol on the kinetics, fraction of gel, level of branches, and sol molecular weight distribution of the seeded semibatch emulsion polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate carried out at 75 °C was investigated. The results were used to fit unknown parameters of a mathematical model that predicted the experimental data reasonably well. The influence of the gel content on the adhesive properties was also investigated.