Objective The project was successful in proving that xanthates (MADIX agents) are efficient controlling agents for emulsion polymerization for styrene and acrylate monomers. In parallel to that, a detailed kinetic study of the MADIX process was carried out in solution polymerization. The obtained kinetic parameters were taken into account to optimize the works in dispersed media. Block copolymers of styrene and acrylate monomers were synthesized in emulsion and the structure-property relationships of the latex films were examined. Molecular and process parameters were varied and their effect on the viscoelastic properties and surface properties of the films was quantified. This helped to extract the basic requirements for designing good candidates for PSA applications.Objectives and content The increasing need for products with better performance and durability requires the use of speciality polymers with controlled composition and architecture. However, no industrial cost-effective process is presently available to synthesise such polymers. Moreover, current processes are performed in solvent media and need recycling of solvents and thorough removal of organic residuals from the polymers. Finally, these processes are incompatible with water, while the demand for waterborne systems is growing fast due to environmental and occupational concerns. Living Radical Polymerisation (LRP), especially when applied directly in emulsion will be able to reconcile these conflicting demands. In LRP all polymer chains allow stepwise addition of monomer throughout the whole process by limiting the extent of chain termination. LRP thereby allows for the sequential radical polymerisation of monomers (multi-blocks) and construction of welldefined architectures. Being a radical polymerisation process, LRP does not require highly pure ingredients and it is expected to allow the controlled polymerisation of a wide variety of vinyl monomers, including functional ones, and for it to be performed under aqueous process conditions. The usefulness of the resultant aqueous dispersions will be validated in one of many potential end-use applications, namely pressure-sensitive accesses (PSA). The main expected innovations to be achieved within the project are: development of efficient process conditions for controlled radical polymerisation extension to a wider range of vinyl monomers including functional ones transposition of the technique to direct and environmentally friendly production of waterborne polymers synthesis of copolymers with controlled composition and architecture targeted to market requirements within the field of PSA (better processing, performance, durability and recycling). The consortium is co-ordinated by Eindoven University of Technology from the Netherlands, who has been active from the start in LRP and its implementation in emulsion and who is one of the world's leading research institutes in the field of emulsion polymerisation. The other partners are Institute Charles Sadron (ICS), a French research laboratory active in LRP, Rhône-Poulenc Chimie, the major French latex supplier, YKI, a Swedish applied research laboratory skilled in fields like PSA, paper coatings and paints, and Raflatac. A Finnish company and one of the biggest labelstock manufacturers in Europe, which will be involved in an important end-use application of the new polymers, namely PSA. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecyclingnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0202 - New methodologies for product design and manufacture Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Eindhoven University of Technology Address 5600 MB Eindhoven Netherlands See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Rue boussingault 6 67083 Strasbourg See on map RHODIA CHIMIE SA France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 52,rue de la haie-coq 52 93308 Aubervilliers See on map Raflatac Oy Finland EU contribution € 0,00 Address 33101 Tampere See on map YKI - INSTITUTE FOR SURFACE CHEMISTRY Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address Drottning kristinas vaeg 45 114 86 Stockholm See on map
