Semicontinuous emulsion copolymerization of 3-O-methacryloyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose (3-MDG) and butyl acrylate (BA) by pre-emulsion addition technique

Semicontinuous emulsion copolymerization of sugar-carrying methacrylate, 3-O-methacryloyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose (3-MDG), and butyl acrylate (BA) was investigated at 70 degreesC with the pre-emulsion addition technique. The effect of the emulsifier concentration and its distribution on the particle size (D) as well as on the evolution of the number of particles (N-p) during the polymerization was studied. The influence of the initiator concentration and its addition manner on the colloidal features was also investigated. The chemical stability and the properties of the sugar latexes were studied in the presence of sodium bicarbonate as a buffer. The effect of the seed-stage on the particle size and its distribution was analyzed. The thermal, mechanical (such as film formation and stress-strain behavior), and rheological properties of the final sugar latexes were determined as well. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.