Microemulsions with polymerizable surfactants. Gamma-ray induced copolymerization of styrene and 11-(acryloyloxy)undecyl(trimethyl)ammonium bromide in three-component cationic microemulsion

Michael Dreja, Bernd Tieke

Styrene and the cationic surfactant 11-(acryloyloxy)undecyl(trimethyl)ammonium bromide (AUTMAB) form transparent, globular microemulsions in water without any addition of a cosurfactant. Upon gamma-irradiation, the two monomers copolymerize at room temperature and form nanolatex particles of about 21 nm in diameter consisting of a copolymer with a mole ratio of styrene to surfactant of approximately 1.5:1. Excess surfactant is polymerized in the micellar solution by formation of homopolymer. A structure model is presented taking into account that the surfactant most likely forms the particle shell. Due to the polar, covalently bound shell the polymer particles can be easily redispersed.

Keywords: rheology, gelatin, anionic surfactants, interactions, gelation, surface tension.

Macromol. Rapid Commun., v. 17, n. 11, 1996, p. 825-833 (ID XX000000)
Copyright © 1996 Huethig & Wepf Verlag, Zug.