| Abstract: | Emulsion polymerization of styrene (St) and vinyl acetate (VAc) in the presence of conventional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), PVA modified with a terminal alkyl group or PVA modified with a terminal thiol group (HS-PVA) was compared. Whereas stable PVAc latexes were obtained, a stable PSt latex was obtained only in the case of HS-PVA. From the adsorption isotherms of these PVAs on the surface of PVAc and PSt latex particles, as well as the grafting efficiencies of VAc and St onto HS-PVA in relation to the stability of the polymerization process, the role of PVA in the emulsion polymerization was discussed. |
