Synthesis and characterization of poly(n-hexyl methacrylate) in three-component microemulsions

The polymerization of n-hexyl methacrylate in three-component microemulsions stabilized with dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide is examined here as a function of the concentration of a water-soluble (V-50) and an oil-soluble (2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile) initiators, of monomer concentration in the parent microemulsions and temperature. At high temperatures and high initiator concentrations, only two reaction rate intervals are observed; however, at low temperatures and low initiator concentrations, a slow rate period is observed whose duration increases as the temperature or the initiator concentration diminish. This slow rate period appears to be due to homogeneous nucleation. Particle size of polymer particles is small and remains constant throughout the reaction. Molar mass is high and also remains constant throughout the reaction. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.