Abstract
Yurzhenko and Mintz were the first to show that, in the process of emulsion polymerization, the size of the polymeric particles in the latex increases regularly. This phenomenon is in complete accord with the theory that, in the particular case of 1,3-butadiene, polymerization proceeds to a major extent in the micelles of the emulsifying agent. A systematic study of the state of dispersion of synthetic latexes in its relation to the experimental conditions and the processes taking place during their formation would appear to be of great potential value in the study of the mechanism of emulsion polymerization. The present authors have studied the degree of dispersion of synthetic latexes prepared in the laboratory, with different concentrations and types of emulsifying agents. Work in this field has not been reported in the scientific literature, although, in studies of emulsion polymerization, data on the state of dispersion of latexes under certain conditions have been reported. In the present work, the effects of other factors, such as the nature of the monomer, initiator, and electrolytes, on the size of the latex particles and the characteristics of these particles also were studied.