Effect of Coagulative Mechanism of Particle Growth on the Structural Heterogeneity of Ethyl Acrylate-Methacrylic Acid Copolymer Latex Particles

Abstract

Latex particles of ethyl acrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers prepared by semicontinuous emulsion polymerization with a monomer emulsion feed were found to disintegrate into smaller subparticles on alkalization. The phenomenon observed by light scattering and scanning electron microscopy is explained in terms of heterogeneous structure of latex particles which are agglomerates of small particles formed by coagulation during polymerization. The influence of particle size and polymerization route on particle heterogenity is discussed.