Progress and Perspectives on Sulfosuccinates in Emulsion Polymerization

Sulfosuccinate surfactants have received sustained attention as emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization due to their unique molecular architecture, strong interfacial activity, and ability to stabilize polymer latexes across diverse monomer systems. However, the fundamental basis of their effectiveness remains insufficiently understood, with many structure–performance relationships still derived from empirical observations. This review attempts to examine mono‐ and disulfosuccinate surfactants by exploring connections between molecular structure, self‐assembly, interfacial behavior, and polymerization performance. An effort has been made to study factors including alkyl chain length, branching, ionization, counterions, aggregate morphology, adsorption dynamics, and reactive surfactant design are discussed in relation to particle nucleation and latex stability. The review highlights major limitations in current studies, including inconsistent reporting of physicochemical properties, overextension of classical Smith‐Ewart theory, and inadequate normalization of comparative evaluations. Emerging developments such as polymerizable sulfosuccinates, bio‐based surfactants, and advanced functional emulsifiers are assessed, with emphasis on distinguishing validated mechanisms from speculative interpretations. Future research priorities include in‐depth characterization of surfactant behavior during polymerization, quantitative analysis of adsorption and partitioning, and multiscale modeling linking molecular interactions with polymerization kinetics. It is anticipated that this will support the rational design of next generation sulfosuccinate surfactants for advanced emulsion polymerization applications.