Reactive surfactants - chemistry and applications Part I. Polymerizable surfactants

Reactive surfactants, due to their versatility, are being rapidly developed and they are finding more and more applications. The aim of this paper is to present recent advances in the chemistry and technology of functional surfactants: surfmers (polymerizable surfactants), inisurfs (surface-active initiators), and transurfs (surface-active transfer agents). Reactive surfactants, beside other advantages, are also environmentally friendly and their use can reduce costs of chemical processes. In this part of a brief review, basic information about reactive surfactants is presented and surfmers are described and discussed. Surfmers combine properties of surfactants (surface activity) and monomers (ability to polymerize). They are widely used for emulsion polymerization, but their other, more sophisticated applications include miniemulsion stabilization, nanomaterials synthesis, drug-delivery systems, and hydrogels.