POLY(ALKYL METHACRYLATE-B-SULFONATED GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE) - A NEW AMPHIPHILIC POLYMERIC SURFACTANT FOR THE PREPARATION AND STABILIZATION OF POLYMER ACRYLIC LATTICES IN AQUEOUS-MEDIUM

Poly(alkyl methacrylate-b-sulfonated glycidyl methacrylate)s are a class of new amphiphilic block polymeric surfactants that can be used for the preparation and stabilization of very fine and stable polymer acrylic latices in aqueous medium. The strong anionic block polyelectrolyte creates an electrosteric barrier that efficiently prevents particles for flocculation. High critical coagulation concentrations were obtained for these polymeric surfactant-stabilized latices. By substituting the anchoring poly(methyl methacrylate) block by a poly(allyl methacrylate) in the radical emulsion polymerization of latices, the polymeric surfactant becomes covalently linked with the particles, and cross-linking occurs as evidenced by GPC measurements. Photon correlation spectrometry measurements give an estimate of the average adsorbed layer thickness, closely corresponding to the extended chain length of the polyelectrolyte block.