Modeling of emulsion co- and terpolymerizations: Will it ever be possible?

In this paper some of the problematic aspects of modeling emulsion copolymerizations will be discussed, giving a retrospective and a perspective on the area. In order to describe the fundamental processes in emulsion polymerization, Like entry and exit of radicals in emulsion copolymerizations, many basic kinetic and thermodynamic constants are needed but still lacking. It will be shown that in the past dramatically deviating parameters were applied in modeling emulsion copolymerization. The most important of these parameters will be discussed and some of the outstanding problems will be highlighted.