Entry in Emulsion Copolymerization: Can the Existing Models be Verified?

Various models have been proposed in order to understand different physical and chemical events taking place during emulsion copolymerization. One of the important processes involved is the entry of radicals into particles, which is often described using the model of Maxwell and Morrison. For emulsion homopolymerization, experimental data partly support this model, while for emulsion copolymerization not many experimental data are available. Here, the different models that have been established over the past decades are reviewed with an emphasis on the propagational mechanisms involved during the entry of oligomeric radicals into latex particles in emulsion homopolymerization. An answer is given to the title question: “Can the existing models be verified?”. magnified image