POLYMERIZATION IN NONUNIFORM LATEX-PARTICLES .3. KINETICS OF GRAFTING IN EMULSION POLYMERIZATION

The concept of nonuniform distribution of free radicals in polymerizing latex particles has been incorporated into the development of a kinetic model for grafting reactions. This theory permits prediction of grafting efficiency as a function of reaction conditions. It can also be used for evaluation of rate constants for grafting reactions. Experimental data for emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of polybutadiene seed latex have been used to assess the proposed grafting theory. The predominant grafting reaction appears to be the attack of growing polystyrene chains on the allyl hydrogen atoms of polybutadiene. The results further reinforce the hypothesis that the entering oligomeric free radicals do not distribute uniformly within the particle volume. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.