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6763895 
Journal Article 
Butyl acrylate RAFT polymerization in miniemulsion 
Luo, Y; Liu, Bei; Wang, Z; Gao, Jin; Li, B; , 
2007 
Yes 
Journal of Polymer Science. Part A, Polymer Chemistry
ISSN: 0887-624X
EISSN: 1099-0518 
WILEY 
HOBOKEN 
2304-2315 
WOS:000246459200022 
Few successes about butyl acrylate (BA) RAFT miniemulsion homopolymerization were reported, even though styrene, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl acetate had been successfully applied in reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) miniemulsion polymerization. In this article, four types of RAFT agent with various designed R and Z groups [benzyl dithioisobutyrate (BDIB), 1-phenylethyl phenyldithioacetate (PEPDTA), cumyl dithioisobutyrate (CDIB), benzyl dithiobenzoate] were used to mediate BA miniemulsion polymerization using the conditions (5 wt % hexadance and sodium dodecyl sulfate) effective for styrene and methyl methaerylate systems. All four types of the RAFT agents effectively control over the bulk polymerization. In contrast, only BDIB resulted in a rather narrow molecular weight distribution in the miniemulsion polymerization. A pronounced inhibition and rate retardation were observed in both bulk and miniemulsion polymerizations mediated by CDIB and benzyl dithiobenzoate. When compared with the bulk polymerization, a much longer inhibition period (over eight times) was observed in the CDIB-mediated. miniemulsion polymerization. It was concluded that only the RAFT agent with the primary R group and Z group with less stabilizing ability to the intermediate radicals is effective to mediate BA miniemulsion polymerization in terms of achieving a narrow molecular weight distribution and short inhibition period. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.