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Semi-transparent reactive microgel in nanosize has been prepared by modified microemulsion polymerization using a common emulsifier, crosslinking agent and functional monomer. The microgels are translucent reactive nanoparticles, with the size of 40–100 nm, consisting of inner-crosslinked polymer up to 40%. FT-IR proved the functional groups, such as epoxy and hydroxy, are on the surface of the microgel nanoparticles. Rheological detection demonstrated the apparent pseudoplasticity of the non-aqueous microgel dispersion prepared by the phase transfering from the O/W microlatexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Monte Carlo simulation of chemically reacting systems based on the master equation was used to describe the stochastic time evolution of the microemulsion polymerization system. A model was developed to demonstrate its applicability for hexyl methacrylate and styrene microemulsion polymerization. The properties of final latex, such as the particle size and molecular weight distributions were obtained simultaneously. The polymerization behavior and properties of final latexes were well reproduced. The model is valuable in confirming or elucidating the various mechanisms in the polymerization. The entry and desorption mechanism was well established to account for the polymerization kinetics. The general polymerization behavior of hydrophobic monomer in microemulsions was properly simulated by the model proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]