Composition of butadiene–styrene copolymers prepared by emulsion polymerization

Experimental data are presented on the monomer composition of copolymers of butadiene and styrene prepared by emulsion polymerization at 50°C. The composition of the copolymers is shown to be unaffected by variations in the amount of emulsifier, of mercaptan, and of the nature of the water‐soluble polymerization catalyst. The composition of the copolymers formed from a charge containing 25% styrene (by wt.) can be represented accurately over the entire conversion range by the approximate theory according to which each monomer disappears by a first order reaction with the growing chain of the polymer, without taking into account the fact that the end of the growing chain to which the monomer adds may be a radical derived from either of the two monomer molecules. If the ratio of monomers in the charge is varied within wide limits, however, it is found that the simple theory is not adequate and it is necessary to consider that the chain may end with different radicals. The analysis of the experimental data shows that a butadiene molecule adds more rapidly than a styrene molecule to a radical derived either from a butadience or a styrene molecule.