Miniemulsion polymerization

Miniemulsion polymerization has recently exploded in terms of publications and the development of a wide range of useful polymer materials only accessible through this polymerization technique. In the first part of this article., the fundamental aspects involved in the preparation and polymerization of monomer miniemulsions are reviewed. The second part deals with the application of miniemulsion polymerization for the production of high solids low viscosity latexes, dispersion of polymers of well defined microstructure through controlled radical polymerization, use of catalytic polymerization in aqueous media, encapsulation of inorganic solids, incorporation of hydrophobic monomers, preparation of hybrid polymer particles, implementation of anionic and step polymerization in aqueous dispersed media, and process intensification by using continuous reactors. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.