The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) miniemulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate mediated by xanthate

The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) miniemulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) mediated by methyl (methoxycarbonothioyl) sulfanyl acetate (MMSA) was carried out. The results showed that polymerizations initiated by AIBN and KPS proceeded in a controlled way. The RAFT miniemulsion polymerization of VAc initiated by KPS showed the shorter inhibition period, higher propagation rate coefficient and final conversion than those in experiment initiated by AIBN. When the monomer conversion reached 25%, the polydispersity index (PDI) of polymer became broad, which was related to chain transfer reaction in RAFT miniemulsion of VAc.