Evolution of the water-monomer dynamic interfacial properties during methyl methacrylate radical polymerization in a single monomer droplet: dependence on the chemical structure of the surfactant

Sabrina Belbekhouche (1, 2) , Thierry Hamaide (1) , Virginie Dulong (2) , Luc Picton (2) , Didier Le Cerf (2) , Jacques Desbrieres (3)

1 IMP - Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères
2 PBM - Polymères, biopolymères, membranes
3 UPPA - Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour

This paper deals with the monitoring of the methyl methacrylate (MMA) droplet interface during its polymerization in one single monomer droplet by using a drop tensiometer. The droplet is stabilized by various molecular and polymer surfactants, in particular Pluronic® F68 and pullulan-block-Jeffamine®. The polymerization in one single droplet of the tensiometer can be seen as a way to study the interface of polymer nanoparticles during a mini-emulsion polymerization assuming the concept of a perfect nanoreactor. It was found that the experimental results (surface tension and interfacial rheology) can be connected with MMA radical polymerization. These results demonstrate that the drop tensiometer technique enables interface evolution to be followed during polymer polymerization.

Mots clés: interface; radical polymerization; dynamic surface tension; polymer surfactant; interfacial rheology

Domaines: Polymères

Sabrina Belbekhouche, Thierry Hamaide, Virginie Dulong, Luc Picton, Didier Le Cerf, et al.. Evolution of the water-monomer dynamic interfacial properties during methyl methacrylate radical polymerization in a single monomer droplet: dependence on the chemical structure of the surfactant. Polymer international, 2013, 62, pp.1617-1623. ⟨10.1002/pi.4458⟩. ⟨hal-00802886⟩