Optimal ionic strength for nonionically initiated polymerization

Surfactant-free emulsion polymerization involving a nonionic, and hence uncharged initiator presents a new approach towards environmentally friendly procedures to synthesize latex particles. Under optimal solvent conditions, notably pH and ionic strength, the latex particles are stabilized by the natural development of ionic charge at the surface of the particles. We emphasize that the present process does not at all involve the addition of stabilizers such as surfactants or the creation of surface-active species from ionic initiators. The width of the size distribution is found to vary strongly with experimental conditions, notably the ionic strength and to a much lesser extent pH. The phenomenon is explained by a critical ionic strength dependence of the aggregation of the just nucleated primary particles into larger secondary particles, the so-called "coagulative nucleation" step.