Particle formation in ab initio RAFT mediated emulsion polymerization systems

Amphiphilic, RAFT-capped, (acrylic acid)(x)(styrene)(y) diblock copolymers (x congruent to 10, y = 10, 5, 0) were synthesized and used as stabilizers in emulsion polymerization. Above the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the diblocks and under appropriate reaction conditions micelles of the more hydrophobic diblocks were sufficiently nonlabile to be nucleated and act as seed particles for latex particle formation. The key parameters which allow control over the system are diblock hydrophobicity and initiator concentration. A homogeneous nucleation mechanism is most likely to operate below the cmc of the diblocks.