miniemulsioonpolümerisatsiooni

Miniemulsioonpolümerisatsioon is a polymerization technique that involves creating a miniemulsion, which is a kinetically stable dispersion of oil droplets (monomer) in water, stabilized by a surfactant and a costabilizer. These droplets typically range in size from 50 to 500 nanometers. The polymerization is then initiated in these monomer droplets, leading to the formation of polymer particles within the same size range.

The key components for creating a miniemulsion include the monomer, water, a primary surfactant, and a costabilizer (often a hydrophobic compound like hexadecane or fatty acid). The miniemulsion is typically formed by high-shear mixing, such as using a homogenizer or sonicator, which breaks down larger droplets into the desired miniemulsion size. Unlike conventional emulsions, miniemulsions are thermodynamically unstable but kinetically stable due to the presence of both surfactant and costabilizer.

The polymerization process itself can be initiated either in the aqueous phase (water-soluble initiator) or in the monomer droplets (oil-soluble initiator). The choice of initiator and polymerization conditions influences the reaction kinetics and the final polymer properties. Miniemulsion polymerization offers several advantages, including good control over particle size and morphology, high reaction rates, and the ability to produce polymers with high molecular weights. It is particularly useful for synthesizing polymers for applications such as coatings, adhesives, drug delivery systems, and nanocomposites.