Preparation of carboxylated polymer emulsion particles in which carboxyl groups are predominantly localized at surface layer by using the seeded emulsion polymerization technique

It was studied how to localize carboxyl groups at the particle surface in a preparation of styrene (S)/butyl acrylate (BA)/methacrylic acid (MAA) polymer emulsion. The relative distribution of carboxyl groups in the emulsion was determined by conductometric titration method: in serum, at surface, and inside particle. By seeded (two-stage) emulsion polymerization that S–BA–MAA terpolymer emulsion was first prepared at low pH and then second stage polymerization of S–BA was continued at high pH, S/BA/MAA polymer emulsion particles in which carboxyl groups are localized predominantly at the surface could be prepared.