Recent Research Progress in the Synthesis and Properties of Amphiphilic Block Co-polymers and Their Applications in Emulsion Polymerization

Amphiphilic block co-polymers are an interesting class of polymeric surfactants. They have been used as rheology modifiers, stabilizing agents of latexes, emulsifiers, de-emulsifiers, flocculants, etc. In this paper the recent advances made in the synthesis of amphiphilic block co-polymer via controlled free-radical copolymerization are reviewed and surfactant properties of amphiphilic block co-polymers are described, such as critical micelle concentrations, surface activity, solubilization capacity of hydrophobic substances in micelles and foaming property. The effect of some parameters on the emulsion polymerization is presented, such as the composition and structure of amphiphilic block co-polymers, block length and the weight ratio of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, and block co-polymer concentration. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2009