ABSTRACT
Polymer colloids can be used either as models in academic research dealing with colloid phenomena or as dispersed materials in a wide variety of industrial applications. Heterogeneous polymerization, especially emulsion polymerization, occupies an important place in the production of polymer materials because it permits the production of colloidal dispersions of polymer or latex particles by free-radical reaction [1]. The nature of the process (very considerable subdivision of reaction sites) results in latex polymers with high solids content. Commonly used in industry to synthesize widely available polymers (synthetic elastomers, binders for paints, films for paper, textile finishing, adhesives, and so forth), this method is also used to produce increasingly technical materials (supports for biological compounds, colored and magnetic latexes, measurement scales, etc.). Thanks to the major advances in identifying the mechanisms of polymerization in heterogeneous media and in characterizing colloid properties, it is now possible to better adapt latex to predefined final uses.
