| Abstract
| - The dispersion polymerization of styrene in ethanol−watermixtures has been investigated.The reactions were carried out in the presence of maleate basedpoly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers assteric stabilizer precursors: R-MA-EOn-R‘ ,with R = H or n-C12H25, MA =maleic acid, n = 34, 42, and49, and R‘ = H or CH3. Nearly monodispersepolystyrene particles from 900 to 2000 nm in diameterwere obtained. The structure and the concentration of themacromonomer, and the polarity of the solvent,affect the particle size and the particle size distribution. Thelocation of the macromonomer, its conversion,and its incorporation yield in the particles throughout the entirepolymerization are discussed. Maleatemacromonomers react quickly to yield very low molecular weight styrenecopolymers. Some of thecopolymers take part in the stabilization of the particles as weaklyadsorbed species. Hydrophilicmacromonomers are well suited for dispersion polymerization, but theincorporation of these macromonomers into the polymer particles is not improved if they have anamphiphilic structure.
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