Hemiesters and hemiamides of maleic and succinic acid: Synthesis and application of surfactants in emulsion polymerization with styrene and butyl acrylate

Hemiesters and hemiamides of maleic acid with different chain lengths of the hydrophobic alkyl group (R = C8H17, C10H21, C12H25, C16H33) have been synthesized and used as surfactants in the emulsion polymerization of styrene and butyl acrylate. The same polymerization experiments were also carried out using nonreactive surfactants with an analogous succinic structure. The chemical structure of the surfactants was confirmed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The melting point and critical micelle concentration of the reactive surfactants described herein were measured. All of the surfactants studied provided good stability of styrene/butyl acrylate latexes, when compared with a reference latex of a styrene/butyl acrylate copolymer prepared with a surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate. The amount of surfactant grafted onto the particles of the final latex was estimated by conductimetric titration. Between 33 and 68% of surfactant used in emulsion polymerization was found on the surface of latex particles. Electrolyte addition at high concentration and freeze/thaw cycle cause flocculation of latexes. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.