Formation of highly monodispersed emulsifier-free cationic poly(methylstyrene) latex particles

Highly monodispersed emulsifier-free poly(methylstyrene) (PMS) latex particles were prepared via an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization in the presence of 2,2′-azobis-(2-amidineopropane) dihydrochloride (V-50) as an initiator. A combination of kinetics and molecular weight distribution studies revealed that the polymerization followed the micellization nucleation mechanism. Results showed that an appropriate initiator concentration was necessary to obtain monodisperse and stable latex particles. Conversion of methylstyrene was found to increase significantly with increasing initiator concentrations. However, the size of PMS latex particles decreased with both the increase of initiator concentration and the reaction temperature at a constant ionic strength. The particle size was increased as the ionic strength of the aqueous phase increased, yet the variation of ionic strength had little effect on the particle size distribution. SEM micrographs showed that an agitation rate of 350 rpm or higher was required in order to produce highly monodispersed poly(methylstyrene) latex particles.