Search

The emulsion copolymerization kinetics of styrene-butyl acrylate was studied in a batch process. The effect of the initiator, emulsifier, chain transfer agent and monomer concentration on copolymerization rate and molecular weight distribution is discussed. Thermal and viscoelastic properties of copolymers were measured. It was found that the n-dodecylthiol introduced into the reactor with the monomers did not affect the copolymerization rate (no redox reaction with the initiator) but the molecular weight was strongly dependent upon its concentration. These two kinetic parameters increase with increasing the butyl acrylate concentration.