Kinetic aspects of styrene minisuspension polymerization using a mixture PVA–SDS as stabilizer: Effect of the time of addition of SDS

The styrene minisuspension polymerization at 70 °C using AIBN as initiator and Polyvinil alcohol (PVA) and mixture PVA–sodium dodecil sulfate (SDS) as stabilizers was studied focusing on the kinetic behavior of the process after the SDS was added (PVA is present from the beginning and SDS is added at a given time tSDS). It was confirmed that the addition of SDS to the system initially stabilized with PVA highly enhances the colloidal stability of the polymer particles because of the association formed between SDS and PVA molecules. It was observed that when SDS is added the rate of polymerization, the average molecular weight and final latex viscosity increase. The earlier the addition of SDS the more marked these increments. This behavior is explained in terms of the colloidal stability of the particles formed via emulsion polymerization and its effect on kinetic aspects such as the evolution of molecular weight and particle size distributions during the minisuspension polymerization.