Application of Emulsifiers in the Emulsion Polymerization of Adhesives

In the emulsion polymerization of adhesives, emulsifiers play the roles of emulsification, dispersion, and solubilization of monomers.
Emulsifiers have the characteristics of low dosage and remarkable effects. They can improve production efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Additionally, they can enhance the quality of adhesives and mitigate issues such as excessive viscosity that may occur during the production process.
In recent years, with the enhancement of environmental awareness and the strengthening of relevant policies, in the adhesive industry, the effective use of emulsifiers has become one of the important indicators for measuring the preparation technology. It is also an important measure to improve the quality of adhesives, develop new functions, and increase economic benefits.

Applications of Different Types of Emulsifiers

I. Application of Anionic Emulsifiers

Anionic emulsifiers have a lower critical micelle concentration (CMC) compared to non-ionic emulsifiers. They have advantages such as generating emulsion particles with small sizes, good mechanical stability of the emulsion, and rarely causing the formation of gels during the polymerization process. Currently, they are widely applied.

II. Non-ionic Emulsifiers

The molecular structure of non-ionic emulsifiers contains long-chain hydrophobic alkyl chains and hydrophilic carboxyl groups or ether bonds, endowing them with both lipophilic and hydrophilic functions. Their advantages include being resistant to hard water, having good chemical stability against electrolytes, etc., and they can be applied within a relatively wide pH range. The obtained emulsions have good electrolyte stability and freeze-thaw stability. However, when non-ionic emulsifiers are used alone, the latex particles are prone to agglomeration, resulting in unstable emulsions.