GROWTH OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) PARTICLES IN 3-COMPONENT CATIONIC MICROEMULSIONS

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been studied in ternary microemulsions which were stabilized by tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) or stearyltrimethylammonium chloride (STAC). The sizes of MMA-swollen polymer particles (R(h)) increased continuously during polymerization. This is in contrast to that of the styrene system, where R(h) increased very rapidly to a maximum and then decreased continuously towards a constant value. The continuous growth of PMMA particles at 60 degrees C are discussed. The stability of PMMA latexes increased with increasing the hydrophobic chain length of the cationic surfactant used. Traces of the coagulations of PMMA particles in the TTAB system can be seen from TEM. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.