Molecular mass control in methacrylic copolymer latexes containing glycidyl methacrylate

✍ Scribed by John M. Geurts; Paul E. Jacobs; Johan G. Muijs; J. J. G. Steven Van Es; Anton L. German

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 912 KB
• Volume: 61
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8995
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19960705)61:1<9::aid-app2>3.0.co;2-p

✦ Synopsis

Results are presented on the preparation and characterization of batch emulsion copolymers of butyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The two main problems occurring during an emulsion copolymerization with GMA are partial hydrolysis of the epoxy groups and internal crosslinking of the latex particles formed. The influence of chain transfer agents (CTA) on the degree of crosslinking was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of reaction temperature and the addition of methacrylic acid on the sol/gel content of the polymer formed and on the rate of epoxy hydrolysis were investigated. It was found that lowering the reaction temperature did not increase the sol content; however, it significantly decreased the extent of hydrolysis. The addition of a CTA (especially CBr,) increased the sol content of the polymer, and good control over the molecular mass was achieved. The addition of methacrylic acid showed that this monomer can be used without any complications with respect to the control of the sol content of the polymer formed. 0 1996