Emulsion polymerization

Emulsion polymerization is a process that converts monomers dispersed in water into polymer particles, typically using surfactants and water-soluble initiators. Polymerization occurs chiefly inside particles formed in the aqueous mixture.

Micellar nucleation: A particle-formation pathway in which monomer-swollen surfactant micelles become loci of polymerization. It explains how surfactant micelles can seed polymer particles early in the reaction.
Colloid: A dispersion of small particles or droplets in a continuous medium that do not rapidly settle. Polymer particles form and remain dispersed as a colloidal product.
Acrylic paint: A water-based paint whose binder is an acrylic polymer dispersion. Emulsion-polymerized acrylic latexes commonly serve as paint binders.
Suspension polymerization: A polymerization process in which monomer droplets are dispersed in water and polymerize largely within those droplets. Unlike emulsion polymerization, it uses relatively large monomer droplets as the main reaction sites.
Homogeneous nucleation: Particle formation from oligomeric radicals that become insoluble in the continuous liquid phase. It provides an alternative particle-formation route when micelles are absent or depleted.
Initiator (chemistry): A compound that generates reactive species capable of starting a chain reaction. Water-soluble initiators generate radicals that can enter or create polymer particles.
Pressure-sensitive adhesive: An adhesive that bonds under light pressure and remains tacky without activation by heat or solvent. Latexes made by emulsion polymerization provide waterborne adhesive formulations.
Miniemulsion polymerization: A polymerization of fine, kinetically stable monomer droplets that act as primary reaction loci. It relies on stabilized monomer droplets rather than conventional micellar particle nucleation.
Surfactant: A surface-active substance that lowers interfacial tension and stabilizes dispersed phases or particles. Surfactants stabilize growing polymer particles and influence their number and size.
Critical micelle concentration: The surfactant concentration above which micelles form in a particular solution. Micelle abundance can shape particle nucleation when surfactant concentration exceeds this threshold.

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