Reversible addition-fragmentation transfer living radical polymerization of styrene in miniemulsion

The reversible addition-fragmentation transfer(RAFT) living radical polymerization of styrene in miniemulsion in the presence of chain-transfer agent 1-phenylethyl dithiobenzoate was investigated in this study.The amounts of surfactant(sodim dodecyl sulfate,SDS) and co-surfactant(n-hexane) were increased to resolve the poor colloidal stability,which always present in the miniemulsion polymerization of styrene.The conversion rate reached 100% at 240 min.During the polymerization process,the polymer showed a narrow PDI value at 1.62,and the average diameter of the final latexes was 39 nm.