Emulsion polymerization of pentabromobenzyl acrylate: Effect of reaction parameters on the produced flame-retardant nanoparticles

Flame-retardant nanoparticles of sizes ranging between 33 ± 6 and 460 ± 50 nm were formed by the emulsion polymerization of the pentabromobenzyl acrylate (PBBA) monomer in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate as the surfactant and potassium persulfate as the initiator. The effect of various polymerization parameters, e.g. monomer, crosslinker monomer, initiator and surfactant concentrations, on the size, size distribution and polymerization yield of the poly(pentabromobenzyl acrylate) nanoparticles produced has been elucidated. Poly(pentabromobenzyl acrylate)/polystyrene (PPBBA/PS) nanoblends containing 15% and 70% of PPBBA particles of 33 ± 6 and 460 ± 50 nm diameter were prepared by mixing the particles with a PS solution in methylene chloride, followed by evaporation of the methylene chloride from the mixture. The effect of the size and the content of the PPBBA nanoparticles in the nanoblends on the thermal stability of the PS were also elucidated.