Kinetics of the emulsion copolymerization of MMA/BA in the presence of sodium montmorillonite

The kinetics of the emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate (MMA/BA = 50/50) in the presence of sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) was investigated. Sodium laurylsulfate was used as surfactant at different concentrations and potassium persulfate as initiator. Two series of experiments were carried out at 30% and 10% solids content and varying the amount of surfactant and sodium montmorillonite. The effect of surfactant and sodium montmorillonite content on the stability of the final latices was assessed. The effect on particle nucleation, polymerization kinetics and molar mass distribution was also discussed, and compared with the predictions of the Smith–Ewart theory.