Efficient Approach for Bio-Based Replacement of Monomers

In emulsion polymerization, the replacement of standard monomers with bio-based monomers requires a firm understanding of the total system, if it is to be formulated properly. The HLD-NAC approach can be used to characterize the constituents in a polymer emulsion so that, more rational adjustments can be made to the surfactant system, while maintaining stability and performance.

The Hydrophilic Lipophilic Difference - Net Average Curvature (HLD-NAC) theory in a defined emulsion system, is used to make profound predictions about:

• Type of emulsion (o/w, w/o), and
• Efficiency of surfactant

HLD-NAC allows for the selection of the optimal surfactant to obtain the desired type of (micro-) emulsion by taking the following parameters into account:

• Oil
• Monomer or polymer number (EACN)
• Temperature
• Salinity, and
• Co-solvents

The previous article on , described a practical application of HLD-NAC for emulsion polymerization. There, a bio-based surfactant was selected to emulsify a blend of monomers. This article sets out to demonstrate the use of HLD-NAC in replacement of the water-soluble co-monomers used in an emulsion polymerization.

Let's begin by understanding the effect of replacing acrylic acid with itaconic acid in a well-known emulsion polymerization system.