Emulsion atom transfer radical polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate

The emulsion atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA) was carried out with ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as an initiator and copper bromide (CuBr)/4,4′-dinonyl-2,2′-bipyridyl (dNbpy) as a catalyst system. The effects of surfactant type and concentration, temperature, monomer/initiator ratio, and CuBr2 addition on the system livingness, polymer molecular weight control, and latex stability were examined …