Abstract
Emulsion polymerization of styrene with soap concentration chosen in the vicinity of critical micelle concentration (CMC) has been investigated. The rate of polymerization and the number of polymer particles correlated with initial monomer, soap and initiator concentrations, are explained qualitatively. An analysis of the gel effect observed at later stage of the reaction has been also carried out. The accumulation of polymeric radicals in polymer particles is considered to be due to the decrease in the termination rate constant kt as monomer conversion increases. An empirical equation for kt as a. function of viscosity in polymer particles is derived.
