Suspended emulsion, a new process for vinyl chloride polymerization: Morphology control through surface active additives

Suspended emulsion is a new polymerization process in which a water phase containing the initiator is suspended in an organic phase containing the monomer; the polymer formed is insoluble in both the organic and water phase. The final morphology of the polymer is a powder of grains (around 100–300 microns) formed with agglomerates of primary particles (around 1 micron). This article describes the effects of small amounts of either suspending agents (water-soluble polymers) or surfactants. These effects concern mainly the morphology (grain and particle size), but also the polymerization kinetics. A rather homogeneous distribution of grains and particles inside the grain may be obtained by using a cellulosic polymer as the suspending agent and an anionic surfactant such as sodium dodecyl sulfate. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.