Emulsion polymerization of hydrophobic monomers
Copolymers of hydrophobic higher branched vinyl esters, and a polymerization process for polymerization of hydrophobic monomers in the presence of surfactants having low critical micelle concentration.
1 . A process comprising contacting a monomer composition, in which at least one monomer has a water solubility of not more than about 0.02 g/100 g water, with at least one surfactant having a critical micelle concentration of less than 0.05 wt %, the contacting taking place under emulsion polymerization conditions sufficient to polymerize the monomers of the monomer composition.
2 . The process of claim 1 wherein the monomer composition comprises at least one higher branched vinyl ester.
3 . The process of claim 1 wherein the monomer composition comprises ethylene.
4 . The process of claim 1 wherein each monomer has a water solubility of not more than about 0.02 g/100 g water.
5 . The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant has a critical micelle concentration of less than about 0.005 wt %.
6 . The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is sodium bis-tridecyl sulfosuccinate.
7 . The process of claim 1 wherein at least one monomer is a higher branched vinyl ester selected from the group consisting of vinyl neo-nonanoate, vinyl neo-decanoate, vinyl neo-undecanoate, vinyl neo-dodecanoate, vinyl 2-ethyl hexanoate or a mixture thereof.
8 . An alkene copolymer latex composition prepared from a polymerization mixture comprising:
(i) at least one alkene and at least one higher branched vinyl ester and, optionally, additional monomers;
(ii) a surfactant with a critical micelle concentration of less than 0.05 wt. %; and
(iii) water.
9 . The composition of claim 8 wherein the alkene is ethylene.
10 . The composition of claim 9 wherein the copolymer comprises from about 0 to about 30 weight percent of polymerized ethylene units, based on the weight of the copolymer.
11 . The composition of claim 9 wherein the mixture comprises at least two monomers selected from the group consisting of vinyl neo-nonanoate, vinyl neo-decanoate, vinyl neo-undecanoate, and vinyl neo-dodecanoate.
12 . A copolymer consisting essentially of, in polymerized form, a polymerization mixture comprising at least two higher branched vinyl ester monomers.
13 . The copolymer of claim 12 that is a poly(vinyl neo-undecanoate-co-vinyl neo-decanoate) copolymer or a poly(vinyl neo-nonanoate-co-vinyl neo-decanoate-co-vinyl undecanoate) terpolymer, or a poly(vinyl neo-nonanoate-co-vinyl neo-decanoate) copolymer.
14 . The process of claim 2 wherein the monomer composition comprises ethylene.
15 . The process of claim 2 wherein each monomer has a water solubility of not more than about 0.02 g/100 g water.
16 . The process of claim 14 wherein the surfactant has a critical micelle concentration of less than about 0.005 wt %.
17 . The process of claim 2 wherein the surfactant has a critical micelle concentration of less than about 0.005 wt %.
18 . The process of claim 3 wherein the surfactant has a critical micelle concentration of less than about 0.005 wt %.
19 . The process of claim 4 wherein each monomer has a water solubility of not more than about 0.02 g/100 g water.
20 . The process of claim 7 wherein the monomer composition further comprises ethylene and the surfactant is sodium bis-tridecyl sulfosuccinate.