KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF EMULSION POLYMERIZATION.

This bibliography-base review paper discusses the course and mechanism of emulsion polymerization which involves three phases. In the first phase the particle formation takes place; the end of this phase is not dependent upon the degree of conversion, but on the total amount of polymer formed. With usual recipes, it ends at about 1-5% conversion. Phase II lasts from the end of Phase I until monomer disappears as a separate phase. In this interval, the particle number is usually found to be constant, the particle volume increases proportional to conversion, the monomer concentration in the particles is approximately constant, and therfore the termination is also constant within the particles. Phase III starts when the monomer disappears as a separate phase. The transition from Phase II to III is determined by the degree of conversion and differs for different monomers. All three phases are discussed in theoretical terms with the use of mathematical techniques. The other topics reviewed include - seed polymerization mechanism; the core-and-shell theory; and emulsification of monomer - initiation in monomer droplets. Mathematical equations derived are additionally included in four appendixes.