Facile synthesis of narrow particle size distribution, high solid content, cationic polymer latexes by macroemulsion polymerization-based particle coagulation mechanism

In this study, a novel approach for preparing 50 wt% solid content cationic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) latexes with narrow particle size distribution (PSD) using macroemulsion polymerization was proposed. The particle number trend firstly decreased followed by rapid particle size growth during particle nucleation stage, which was different from behavior of anionic latex. The former was explained through particle coagulative mechanism. The effects of reaction parameters, such as surfactant, comonomer and electrolyte concentration on the kinetics of polymerization were discussed. Narrow PSD and stable PMMA latexes with particle size ranging from 137 to 307 nm were obtained during the polymerization reaction step. Overall, the proposed approach could effectively improve the industrial production efficiency of cationic polymer latexes.