A “Living” Radical ab Initio Emulsion Polymerization of Styrene Using a Fluorinated Xanthate Agent

The process of living radical ab initio emulsion polymerization to produce polystyrene was described using a fluorinated xanthate (F-MADIX) agent. It was observed that the emulsion polymerization technique was used for the synthesis of nanoscale polymer particles. It was also observed that by changing the leaving group's water solubility on the F-MADIX agent, the particle size could be altered in any face. The results show that the transport of F-MADIX from droplets to the growing particles, enters the particles at the same rate as being consumed in accordance with the twin-films theory.