Radiation induced emulsion polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate

The effects of radiation dose rate concentration of emulsifier and monomer content on reaction rate of radiation induced 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) emulsion polymerization have been studied. Nonionic surfactants, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether peregolo 0 with HLB about 15 and polyoxyethylene nonylphenolether (emulsifier OP) with HLB 15, are used as the emulsifiers in this work. It has been found that the dependence of RP on I (RP proportional to In) is changed with the index n from 0.29 for M/W = 2/8 (monomer/water in volume) to 0.91 for 5/5, where [E] of peregolo 0 is 4%. It has also been found that RP proportional to [E]0.58 for peregolo 0 and RP proportional to [E]0.51 for emulsifier OP. In order to interpret the results sufficiently, both micellar nucleation and micro-droplet nucleation have been taken into account for the emulsion polymerization of the present system irradiated without agitation, especially for the case with a higher M/W value the later may be the main nucleation process