Free radical polymerization using acidified ethoxylated conjugated fatty ether surfactants

Abstract

The free radical initiated addition polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated, particularly acrylic monomers in which the dispersed phase is stabilised by a surfactant including at least one anionic surfactant compound of the formula (I): R 1 -(OA) n -X where R 1 is C 16 to C 22 hydrocarbyl including at least two double bonds; OA is oxyalkylene group; n is from 2 to 60; and X includes at least one acidic H atom, and is particularly a phosphate ester group, or a salt thereof, is described. The use of the surfactants of the formula (I) enable efficient emulsification and thus polymerisation at temperatures above those at which non-ionic unsaturated surfactants are effective. The polymer latex products give polymer films having good water resistance properties.

1 - 13 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         14 . An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles wherein the dispersion is formed in the presence of a stabilizing amount of an anionic alkoxylate surfactant of formula I  
       R′—(OA) n —X  
       wherein R′ is a C 16-22  hydrocarbon chain having two or more double bonds, at least two of said double bonds being conjugated; 
 OA is selected from the group consisting of oxyethylene, oxypropylene and oxybutylene;  
 n is 2 to 60;  
 and X is an anionic group having at least one acidic hydrogen, or a salt thereof.  
 
     
     
         15 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 14  wherein said anionic group is provided by a phosphorus acid group, a sulphur acid group or a carboxylic acid group.  
     
     
         16 . An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles wherein the dispersion is formed in the presence of a stabilizing amount of an anionic alkoxylate surfactant of formula I  
       R′—(OA) n —X  
       wherein R′ is a C 16-22  hydrocarbon chain having two or more double bonds, at least two of said double bonds being conjugated; 
 OA is selected from the group consisting of oxyethylene, oxypropylene and oxybutylene;  
 n is 2 to 60; and  
 X is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of acids or salts of phosphate, sulphate, succinate, carboxymethyl, maleate, carboxyethyl, sulphoethyl, and sulfopropyl.  
 
     
     
         17 . An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles wherein the dispersion is formed in the presence of a stabilizing amount of an anionic alkoxylate surfactant of formula I  
       R′—(OA) n —X  
       wherein R′ is a C 16-22  hydrocarbon chain having two or more double bonds, at least two of said double bonds being conjugated; 
 OA is selected from the group consisting of oxyethylene, oxypropylene and oxybutylene;  
 n is 2 to 60; and  
 X is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of acids or salts of sulphate, succinate, carboxymethyl, maleate, carboxyethyl, sulphoethyl, and sulfopropyl.  
 
     
     
         18 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 14  wherein the dispersion of polymeric particles is prepared by addition polymerization of an addition polymerizable monomer.  
     
     
         19 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 18  wherein the addition polymerizable monomer is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer.  
     
     
         20 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 19  wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 12  alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, methacrylic acid, hydroxyalkyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, styrene, vinyl styrene, vinyl toluene, vinyl pyridine, di-alkyl maleate and vinyl chloride.  
     
     
         21 . An aqueous disperison according to  claim 14  wherein R′ has the following structure:  
       CH 3 —(CH 2 ) 13-K —CH═CH—CH═CH—(CH 2 ) K — 
       wherein K is 8 or 9.  
     
     
         22 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 14  wherein R′ is derived from linoleyl alcohol by alkoxylation of said alcohol.  
     
     
         23 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 14  wherein OA is oxyethylene.  
     
     
         24 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 14  wherein OA is oxypropylene.  
     
     
         25 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 14  where X is sulphate, carboxymethyl or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         26 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 14  wherein the salt is an amine, ammonium or alkali metal salt.  
     
     
         27 . A method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles comprising conducting an addition or condensation polymerization in the presence of a stabilizing amount of an anionic alkoxylate surfactant of formula I  
       R′—(OA) n —X  
       wherein R′ is a C 16-22  hydrocarbon chain having two or more double bonds, at least two of said double bonds being conjugated; 
 OA is selected from the group consisting of oxyethylene, oxypropylene and oxybutylene;  
 n is 2 to 60; and  
 X is an anionic group having at least one acidic hydrogen, or a salt thereof.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein X is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of acids or salts of phosphate, sulphate, succinate, carboxymethyl, maleate, carboxyethyl, sulphoethyl and sulfopropyl.  
     
     
         29 . An aqueous dispersion according to  claim 14  wherein X is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of acids or salts of sulphate, succinate, carboxymethyl, maleate, carboxyethyl, sulphoethyl and sulfopropyl.