ABSTRACT
Polymer colloids are dispersions of polymer particles in a continuous liquid phase. The liquid phase is often, but not necessarily, aqueous. Particle diameters can be between 20 and 2000 nm and each particle usually contains many individual polymer molecules. Some colloidal polymers occur naturally, or can be derived readily from naturally occurring materials. This chapter focuses on distinctive features of polymer colloids; those characteristics that are common to all colloids Awide variety of polymer colloids can be made via emulsion polymerization. In that process, addition polymerization of an unsaturated monomer usually occurs via a free radical mechanism. Some of the distinguishing features of emulsion polymerization can be explained by taking into account reaction kinetics. When the polymer concentration becomes high, chain termination can become controlled by the diffusion of the polymer radicals and the rate coefficient for chain termination is reduced.
