Mini-emulsion preparation, kinetics of reaction and physical properties of acrylic terpolymer lattices

In this study, stable lattices of terpolymer butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene were synthesized by a mini-emulsion polymerization technique using tert-butyl hydroperoxide TBHP/Fe2 /ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid/sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate redox initiators at room temperature, and the kinetics of the reaction were studied. The reaction rate was obtained from periodic sampling. The chemical compositions of the samples were identified by FTIR. The distribution index of some polymers and their distribution were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The size distribution of the polymers in the lattices was obtained by dynamic light scattering. From the results of the DSC test, it was deduced that copolymerization produces a structure of special blocks and that this particular terpolymer has two glass-transition temperatures.