Study of the Kinetics of Polymerization of Isoprene in Aqueous Solutions of Emulsifiers and in Emulsions
Abstract It has been established earlier that polymerization in aqueous solutions of emulsifiers takes place in the water or in the micellae of the emulsifier, depending on the solubility of the monomer and the initiator. The question of the topochemical properties of polymerization in emulsions has not yet been definitively explained. In a number of studies, the hypothesis was advanced that the process of emulsion polymerization takes place in the micellae of the emulsifier, according to the degree of conversion of the micellae into polymer-monomer particles, with the monomer dissolved in the polymer. In order to explain further the mechanism of emulsion polymerization, the kinetics of polymerization of isoprene in water, in solutions of emulsifier and N-cetylpyridinium bromide, and in emulsions in the presence of a water-soluble initiator (hydrogen peroxide) were studied. The dilatometric method was chosen for the kinetic measurements of solutions of emulsifier not saturated with isoprene, and for emulsions. Experiments with solutions of emulsifier saturated with monomer were made during continuous saturation of the emulsifierinitiator solution with isoprene in the gaseous phase. All the experiments were made at 50° C in the absence of oxygen.