Abstract
Emulsion polymerization of styrene was investigated using as an emulsifier the salts of stearic and lauric acids with cations of different metals (K+, Li+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Zn2+). The emulsifier was injected in two ways: using ready salts entered into the aqueous phase (1) or salts formed at the phase boundary of monomer/water at the moment of polymerization (2). The second method of injection of the emulsifier proved to be more effective. In this case, there was a significant reduction in the interfacial tension which promotes intense microemulsification of monomer. The kinetics of the polymerization were studied by the method of dilatometry. Interfacial tension at the phase boundary monomer/water was measured by stalagmometric method. The sizes of the particles of polymer suspensions were determined by electrophoretic light scattering. It is shown that the polystyrene suspension with narrow particle size distribution and with diameter of 0.2 microns can be obtained using as an emulsifier 0.5% of lithium stearate in the conditions of its synthesis at the phase boundary, with a volume ratio of the monomer/aqueous phase of 1:10, the concentration of the initiator - 0.1%. Monodispersed granules of polystyrene suspensions with diameter of 0.2 microns are highly promising as carriers of protein cell to create diagnostic kits for various diseases.