Miniemulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of macromonomeric initiators

Macromonomeric azo initiators (macroinimers, MIM) which have the properties of macromonomers, macrocrosslinkers and macroinitiators in a macrostructure were used in miniemulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence or absence of any other stabilizer and initiator. MIMs were prepared from the reaction of 4,4′-dicyano-4,4′-azovaleryl chloride, with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of different molecular weights (400 and 2000 g/mol) and with 4-vinylbenzyl chloride. The stabilizing and initiator efficiency of MIMs and the effect of the chain length of PEG units were evaluated.