Optimization of silicone-modified acrylate nanoemulsion preparation process by response surface methodology

Nanoemulsions are colloidal dispersion systems that consist of oil, water, emulsifier, and co-emulsifier. They are isotropic and thermodynamically stable and possess either transparent or translucent properties. In this paper, a one-way test was employed to determine the experimental ranges of temperature, emulsifier dosage, and silicone monomer dosage for the polymerization reaction of silicone-modified acrylate nanoemulsions. The Box–Behnken central combination experimental design principle was utilized for response surface optimization tests. The results revealed that the optimal experimental conditions were found to be a reaction temperature of 80 °C, an emulsifier dosage of 3.7%, and an organosilicon content of 5.1%. Experimental verification demonstrated a conversion rate of 95.49% for acrylate nanoemulsion, with a gelation rate of 0.067%, aligning closely with the extrapolated results from the model. These findings highlight the efficacy of the interfacial response surface method in optimizing the preparation process of silicone-modified acrylate nanoemulsions.