ABSTRACT
Emulsion polymerization is in widespread use for preparation of stable aqueous suspensions of polymeric particles of submicrometer size and offers many advantages for colloid polymer in biological, medical, and pharmaceutical applications [1, 2]. Among the components used in a classical emulsion polymerization recipe, the surfactant or stabilizer has two key roles. One role of the surfactant is its participation in the nucleation step and contribution to the creation of stable particles. The final number of latex particles is directly related to the initial concentration of the surfactant. Another role of the surfactant is to impart good stability to the latex particles during polymerization as well as storage [3]. Ionic surfactants ensure the particles’ stability by electrostatic repulsion, whereas nonionic stabilizers, e.g., poly(ethylene oxide), possess a steric effect and are particularly efficient against electrolyte, high-shear, and/or freeze-thaw-induced destabilizations [4, 5].
