Preparation of monodisperse reactive styrene‐glycidyl methacrylate latexes by the emulsifier‐free dispersion copolymerization technique

Abstract

Abstract Latexes based on styrene‐glycidyl methacrylate copolymers were prepared by the emulsifier‐free dispersion copolymerization technique. The main factors affecting the size and morphology of the latex particles and their distribution are the initiator concentration (K 2 S 2 O 8 ), the total ionic strength of the aqueous phase, and the total monomer concentration. The existence of critical values for these variables was demonstrated. In the range in which these factors had values below the critical, the synthesized latex particles were spherical, homogeneous, and in varied sizes, depending on the abovementioned parameters in the range of 220–500 nm. Above the critical values of these variables the latex particles consisted of spherical aggregates of smaller particles. The reactive oxirane groups of the latex particles were modified later by hydrolysis, ammonolysis, reaction with Na 2 S, or periodic acid oxidation of the hydrolyzed or ammonolyzed forms of the latex particles.