Preparation of functionalized polystyrene latexes by radiation-induced miniemulsion polymerization using a Y-type polymerizable surfactant as sole stabilizers

Functionalized polystyrene latexes were prepared by miniemulsion polymerization using a Y-type polymerizable surfactant bearing a carboxylic acid group as sole stabilizers. Kinetics analysis showed that there was no constant rate stage, which coincided with the kinetics mechanism of the typical miniemulsion polymerization. The latexes obtained were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was found that the latexes prepared by miniemulsion polymerization initiated by gamma-ray had more narrowly particle size distribution compared with by potassium persulfate. XPS and FTIR results indicated that the carboxyl group was present on the surface of the polymer particles.