Miniemulsion copolymerization of n-butyl methacrylate with crosslinking monomers

Miniemulsion copolymerization of n-butyl methacrylate and crosslinking monomers such as a macromonomer crosslinker (Mac), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), or an aliphatic urethane acrylate macromonomer (AUA) was utilized to obtain crosslinked latex particles. The crosslinking monomers were added at 0.2 mol %, on the basis of the amount of n-butyl methacrylate utilized in a polymerization. The development of the gel content during the copolymerization reaction differs depending on the type of the crosslinking monomer. In addition to the crosslinking reactions between the n-butyl methacrylate and the crosslinking monomers, other kinetic events, such as microphase separation, may have occurred, giving rise to different particle morphologies, dependent on the type of initiator used (i.e., oil-soluble or water-soluble). (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.