Miniemulsification: An Analysis of the Use of Rotor Stators as Emulsification Devices

Summary: Production of polymeric latexes by miniemulsion techniques is clearly attracting more and more attention for a number of reasons. However, one of the limiting factors in the acceptance of miniemulsion polymerisation as a commercialisible technique was that in early laboratory studies ultrasonication was the only method considered for the generation of polymerisable droplets. It is shown in the current paper that rotor stator mixers are an promising alternative. In addition to demonstrating the feasibility of these techniques, an investigation of the evolution of the particle size distribution during polymerisation revealed that controlled coalescence can occur for reasons that are difficult to identify.