Novel Reactive Polymerizable Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylate Surfactants as Emulsifier in Non-Aqueous Emulsion Polymerization

In this work, new series of modified nonionic polymerizable nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEs) were synthesized as organic solvent-soluble surfactants. The nonyl, phenyl and propenyl groups were acted as solvophilic segment. The modified polyoxyethylene, maleate chains were behaved as solvophobic segment. The new bifunctional surfmers were prepared by reacting polyoxyethylene 4-nonyl-2-propylenephenol nonionic reactive surfactant with maleic anhydride followed by esterification with poly(ethylene glycol). The chemical structure of the prepared surfactants was determined by C-13 and H-1 NMR analyses. The surface activities of these surfactants were determined in organic solvents including formamide, toluene and aqueous water solvent from surface tension measurements. The relationship between the surface activity and molecular structure of the organic solvent-soluble polymerizable NPE surfactants as well as the type and structure of organic solvents were discussed. The results showed that the prepared polymerizable NPE surfactants have been reduced the surface tension of both polar and non-polar organic solvents. Surface parameters such as surface excess concentration (Gamma(max)), the area per molecule at interface (A(min)) and the effectiveness of surface tension reduction were determined from the adsorption isotherms of the prepared surfactants. The prepared polymerizable surfactant used to prepare crosslinked N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) copolymer microgel based on nonaqueous emulsion copolymerization.