Core-shell polymers of methyl methacrylate-styrene system were prepared by sequential emulsion polymerization in the presence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SDBS) as an emulsifier using ammonium persulfate(APS) in an initiator and the characteristics of these core-shell polymers were evaluated. Core-shell composite latex has the both properties of core and shell components in a particle, whereas polymer blends or copolymers show a combined physical properties of two homopolymers. This unique behavior of core-shell composite latex can be used in various industrial fields. However, in preparation of core-shell composite latex, several unexpected matters are observed, for examples, particle coagulation, low degree of polymerization, and formation of new particles during shell polymerization. To solve this matters, we study the effects of surfactant concentrations, initiator concentrations, and reaction temperature on the core-shell structure of PMMA-PSt and PSt-PMMA. Particle size and particles distribution were measured by using particle size analyzer, and the morphology of the core-shell composite latex was observed by using transmission electron microscope. Glass temperature was also measured by using differential scanning calorimeter. To identify the core-shell structure, pH of the composite latex solutions was measured.

Highly crosslinked micron-size monodispersed PMMA/PDVB and PS/PDVB particles were prepared using seeded multi-stage emulsion polymerization. PMMA and PS seed particles were synthesized by seeded multi-stage emulsion polymerization and soap-free emulsion polymerization. Then PMMA/PDVB and PS/PDVB particles were obtained using semi-batch type emulsion polymerized using divinyl benzene as a cross-linkable monomer in the presence of seed particles. PMMA particles with size of ca. 730 nm and polydispersity of 1.03 were successfully prepared in this experiment. PS particles with size of ca. 1.5 μm and polydispersity of 1.01 were prepared in this experiment. Highly crosslinked PS/PDVB particles with size of ca. 1.3 μm and polydispersity of 1.00 were obtained.

Poly(methyl methacrylate)/clay nanocomposite particles with particle size of 275~292 nm range were successfully prepared using emulsion polymerization. The content of montmorillonite based on the methyl methacrylate monomer was chosen as 30 wt.%. 2,2-azobis(isobuthylamidine hydrochloride) and n-dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride were used as an initiator and a surfactant in cationic emulsion system. Potassium persulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate were used as an initiator and a surfactant in anionic emulsion system. The evidence of intercalated /exfoliated structure of montmorillonite in the nanocomposite prepared in our experiment was confirmed by wide angle x-ray diffraction patterns of d001 plane. Thermal behavior of nanocomposite was traced using DSC and TGA. It was found that the nanocomposite particle prepared by cationic emulsion system showed intercalated structured. We also found that the nanocomposite particle obtained from anionic emulsion system resulted in the fully exfoliated structure.

To developed new process for obtaining maximum molecular weight of anionic acrylamide and acrylic acid copolymer by inverse emulsion polymerization. Concentration of initiator, reducing agent, surfactant and mole ratio of acrylamide-acrylic acid were studied for the process. Semi-batch processes with method of redox, control of reaction temperature, feeding method of monomer and reaction time, was suitable for maximum molecular weight of P(AMAC) from this process obtained 3.09 × 106(Mn.) and 4.41 × 106(Mw.) in molecular weight measured by the intrinsic viscosity method. inverse emulsion polymerization mechanism of P(AMAC) does not followed the Smith-Ewart and Medvedev theory, but selected for concentration of initiator, reducing agent, surfactant, water solubility of monomer.