Morphology of the poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) micelles obtained by radiation-induced emulsion polymerization using anionic/nonionic mixed surfactants templates

Poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) latexes were first obtained by emulsion polymerization induced by gamma ray. FTIR, 1H-NMR and potentiometric titration methods were used to identify the alternating structure of the product. Then the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) method was used to observe the morphology of the micelles. As the pH of the latex increases from 3 to 7, the shape of aggregates changes from short-shuttle to long-rod. When the pH increases to 10, the rod-like aggregates are not found. The result indicates that the linearity of chains occurring at pH 7 induces the formation of the specific morphology with the cooperation of anionic/nonionic mixed surfactants templates.