Bentonite, stabilizer for suspension polymerization

Abstract

In suspension polymerizations, stabilizers play a crucial role in the particle formation. An effective stabilizer must be able to maintain complete coverage of the surface by both physical and/or anchoring adsorption. In this work the possibility of using original bentonite and bentonite with a high percentage of montmorillonite, their acid-activated and monocationic forms as mixed stabilizer has been investigated. Styrene was used as the monomer. Beads of polystyrene with spherical or elliptical shape were obtained, depending on form of the used bentonite. The results are discussed in terms of the acidity of the mineral surface, amphiphilic characteristic of the clay and the change of the contact angle between organic / water / mineral phase.