Os processos industriais de polimerização em emulsão são normalmente realizados em reatores batelada ou semi batelada ou em tanques agitados contínuos (CSTR). Os reatores contínuos têm a vantagem de terem menor porte e de propiciarem melhor controle de qualidade do produto através da redução de variações de batelada a batelada. Além disso, as oscilações periódicas autosustentadas na conversão de monômero e no tamanho da partícula, que são normalmente observadas em reatores do tipo CSTR, podem ser minimizadas em reatores tubulares mediante o uso de dispositivos de mistura estáticos adequados combinados com escoamento pulsado (oscilatório). O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o desenvolvimento de uma copolimerização em emulsão de acetato de vinila e acrilato de butila em uma coluna pulsada com pratos perfurados (CPPP). A fim de aumentar a sua flexibilidade operacional, a coluna é composta de 5 seções, cada uma apresentando controles independentes de alimentação lateral e temperatura. Dependendo da estratégia de alimentação de monômero, pode-se notar uma deriva de composição durante o processo de copolimerização em emulsão do acetato de vinila e acrilato de butila devido às grandes diferenças entre estes monômeros em suas razões de reatividade e nas solubilidades na fase aquosa. Neste caso, a CPPP propicia diferentes possibilidades de alimentação que permitem controlar a composição do copolímero através da alimentação do monômero mais reativo ao longo da coluna. Por esta razão, foi avaliado neste estudo o efeito do número de correntes de alimentação sobre as propriedades do polímero. Diferentes números de correntes laterais de alimentação de monômero foram empregadas nos ensaios experimentais. Diferenças na uniformidade da composição do copolímero podem ser notadas dependendo do número de correntes laterais de alimentação aplicadas em cada teste. A fim de permitir variações de temperatura, somente a temperatura de entrada das camisas de resfriamento foi fixada. Para simular as reações foi utilizado um modelo matemático desenvolvido baseado no modelo de escoamento pistonado (plug-flow) axialmente disperso. No presente trabalho, um balanço de energia foi incluído ao modelo matemático anterior de modo que a influência de diferentes perfis de temperatura pudesse ser considerada. O efeito das correntes laterais de alimentação de monômero sobre as propriedades do copolímero puderam ser previstas com suficiente precisão pelas simulações do modelo, as quais foram também validadas pelos resultados experimentais. Com base nas simulações matemáticas, um perfil ótimo de alimentação pôde ser calculado e experimentalmente aplicado na CPPP permitindo a produção de um copolímero mais homogêneo. Os resultados também permitiram a validação do modelo matemático como uma ferramenta confiável na predição de ensaios experimentais. Além disso, as vantagens da CPPP puderam ser verificadas pelo seu desempenho adequado como reator tubular para processos contínuos de copolimerização em emulsão. Finalmente, os resultados indicaram a possibilidade de melhorias adicionais nas propriedades do polímero através do emprego de diferentes temperaturas e perfis de alimentação de outros reagentes ao longo da coluna. / Industrial emulsion polymerization processes are usually performed in batch or semi-batch stirred tanks, or in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR). Continuous reactors have the advantage of being smaller and providing a better product quality control by the reduction of the batch-to-batch variations. In addition, periodical self-sustained oscillations in monomer conversion and in particle size that are usually observed in CSTR can be minimized in tubular reactors presenting good radial mixing. Such conditions can be achieved in tubular reactors by using adequate static mixing devices combined with pulsed (oscillatory) flow. The aim of this work is to report the development of a continuous emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate performed in a pulsed sieve plate column (PSPC). In order to improve its operational flexibility, the column is composed of five sections, each one presenting independent lateral feed and temperature controls. Depending on the monomer feeding strategy, a composition drift can be noticed during the emulsion copolymerization process of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate, due to the large differences in reactivity ratios and aqueous phase solubility between these monomers. In this case, the PSPC provides different operational feeding possibilities which allow controlling the copolymer composition by feeding the more reactive monomer along the column. For this reason, in this study the effect of the number of lateral feed streams on the polymer properties was evaluated. Different numbers of lateral monomer feed streams were employed in the experimental runs. Differences in the uniformity of the copolymer composition can be noticed along the reactor depending on the number of lateral feed streams applied in each test. In order to allow temperature variations, during each reaction only the inlet temperature of the cooling jackets was fixed. A developed mathematical model based on the axially dispersed plug-flow model was used to simulate the reactions. In the present study the energy balance was included in the mathematical model so that the influence of different temperature profiles could be taken into account. The effect of lateral monomer feed streams over the copolymer properties could be predicted with sufficient accuracy by model simulations which were also validated by the experimental results. Based on mathematical simulations, an optimal feeding profile could be calculated and experimentally applied in the PSPC allowing the production of a more homogeneous copolymer. The results also permitted the validation of the mathematical model as a reliable tool in the prediction of experimental runs. Furthermore, the advantages of the PSPC could be verified by its adequate performance as a tubular reactor for continuous emulsion copolymerization processes. Finally, the results indicate the possibility of further improvements in other polymer properties by employing different temperature and feeding profiles of other reagents along the column.

The phenomenon of depropagation or reverse polymerization for multicomponent polymerizations has been studied in detail. The monomer Alpha-Methyl Styrene (AMS) has been copolymerized with Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) and Butyl Acrylate (BA) at temperatures ranging from 60oC to 140oC and the kinetics have been studied in the form of propagation/cross propagation and depropagation parameters. There have been multiple attempts with varying amounts of success in the past to determine the kinetic parameters for depropagating systems including work by Lowry and Wittmer as well as other modelling methodologies that are not as mechanistic. The most recent development of the mechanistic terminal model is that of the Kruger model. The model is robust and can take into account all special cases as well as all reactions being reversible. The kinetic parameters have been estimated for each of the three binary systems using the Kruger model (MMA/AMS, MMA/BA, BA/AMS). The Alfrey-Goldfinger model is inadequate to describe depropagating terpolymer systems and in order to study them, a new model was developed based upon the binary Kruger model. This new model takes into account a fully depropagating terpolymer system leading to a total of 15 parameters to be estimated. These 15 parameters have the same definitions as those estimated from the binary Kruger model, thus making accurate analysis of the binary systems crucial since these will be used as first estimates for the terpolymer system. Extensive experimental data (composition, conversion and molecular weights) was collected and analysed for the MMA/AMS and BA/AMS systems. For the BA/AMS system both the bulk and solution copolymerizations were studied in detail with the results from the Kruger model not showing a significant difference in the reactivity ratios between the two types of polymerization. For the MMA/AMS system, a bulk study only was done which revealed an interesting phenomenon that points toward a break down of the long chain approximations used for all of the models being studied. For both of these systems, extensive ¹H NMR analysis was done to determine the copolymer composition. Data collected in previous research for the MMA/BA system was reanalysed using the Kruger model and it was found that the parameter estimates did not differ significantly from the published values. Extensive benchmarking was done with the newly developed terpolymer model on non-depropagating systems using data from the literature to ensure it worked for the simplest cases. It was found that the model matched the parameter estimates from the literature and in some cases improving upon them to fit the data better. Along with the benchmarking a sensitivity analysis was done which revealed some interesting information. For the MMA/BA/AMS terpolymer system a set of experiments (based upon practical considerations) were performed and the composition of the polymer was determined using ¹³C NMR instead of the usual ¹H NMR due to the difficulty of peak separation for the complex terpolymer. Using the depropagating terpolymer composition data in conjunction with the parameter estimates from the three binary systems allowed for estimation of the 15 kinetic parameters, which showed only minor variation from the binary estimates.

The phenomenon of depropagation or reverse polymerization for multicomponent polymerizations has been studied in detail. The monomer Alpha-Methyl Styrene (AMS) has been copolymerized with Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) and Butyl Acrylate (BA) at temperatures ranging from 60oC to 140oC and the kinetics have been studied in the form of propagation/cross propagation and depropagation parameters. There have been multiple attempts with varying amounts of success in the past to determine the kinetic parameters for depropagating systems including work by Lowry and Wittmer as well as other modelling methodologies that are not as mechanistic. The most recent development of the mechanistic terminal model is that of the Kruger model. The model is robust and can take into account all special cases as well as all reactions being reversible. The kinetic parameters have been estimated for each of the three binary systems using the Kruger model (MMA/AMS, MMA/BA, BA/AMS). The Alfrey-Goldfinger model is inadequate to describe depropagating terpolymer systems and in order to study them, a new model was developed based upon the binary Kruger model. This new model takes into account a fully depropagating terpolymer system leading to a total of 15 parameters to be estimated. These 15 parameters have the same definitions as those estimated from the binary Kruger model, thus making accurate analysis of the binary systems crucial since these will be used as first estimates for the terpolymer system. Extensive experimental data (composition, conversion and molecular weights) was collected and analysed for the MMA/AMS and BA/AMS systems. For the BA/AMS system both the bulk and solution copolymerizations were studied in detail with the results from the Kruger model not showing a significant difference in the reactivity ratios between the two types of polymerization. For the MMA/AMS system, a bulk study only was done which revealed an interesting phenomenon that points toward a break down of the long chain approximations used for all of the models being studied. For both of these systems, extensive ¹H NMR analysis was done to determine the copolymer composition. Data collected in previous research for the MMA/BA system was reanalysed using the Kruger model and it was found that the parameter estimates did not differ significantly from the published values. Extensive benchmarking was done with the newly developed terpolymer model on non-depropagating systems using data from the literature to ensure it worked for the simplest cases. It was found that the model matched the parameter estimates from the literature and in some cases improving upon them to fit the data better. Along with the benchmarking a sensitivity analysis was done which revealed some interesting information. For the MMA/BA/AMS terpolymer system a set of experiments (based upon practical considerations) were performed and the composition of the polymer was determined using ¹³C NMR instead of the usual ¹H NMR due to the difficulty of peak separation for the complex terpolymer. Using the depropagating terpolymer composition data in conjunction with the parameter estimates from the three binary systems allowed for estimation of the 15 kinetic parameters, which showed only minor variation from the binary estimates.

Os processos industriais de polimerização em emulsão são normalmente realizados em reatores batelada ou semi batelada ou em tanques agitados contínuos (CSTR). Os reatores contínuos têm a vantagem de terem menor porte e de propiciarem melhor controle de qualidade do produto através da redução de variações de batelada a batelada. Além disso, as oscilações periódicas autosustentadas na conversão de monômero e no tamanho da partícula, que são normalmente observadas em reatores do tipo CSTR, podem ser minimizadas em reatores tubulares mediante o uso de dispositivos de mistura estáticos adequados combinados com escoamento pulsado (oscilatório). O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o desenvolvimento de uma copolimerização em emulsão de acetato de vinila e acrilato de butila em uma coluna pulsada com pratos perfurados (CPPP). A fim de aumentar a sua flexibilidade operacional, a coluna é composta de 5 seções, cada uma apresentando controles independentes de alimentação lateral e temperatura. Dependendo da estratégia de alimentação de monômero, pode-se notar uma deriva de composição durante o processo de copolimerização em emulsão do acetato de vinila e acrilato de butila devido às grandes diferenças entre estes monômeros em suas razões de reatividade e nas solubilidades na fase aquosa. Neste caso, a CPPP propicia diferentes possibilidades de alimentação que permitem controlar a composição do copolímero através da alimentação do monômero mais reativo ao longo da coluna. Por esta razão, foi avaliado neste estudo o efeito do número de correntes de alimentação sobre as propriedades do polímero. Diferentes números de correntes laterais de alimentação de monômero foram empregadas nos ensaios experimentais. Diferenças na uniformidade da composição do copolímero podem ser notadas dependendo do número de correntes laterais de alimentação aplicadas em cada teste. A fim de permitir variações de temperatura, somente a temperatura de entrada das camisas de resfriamento foi fixada. Para simular as reações foi utilizado um modelo matemático desenvolvido baseado no modelo de escoamento pistonado (plug-flow) axialmente disperso. No presente trabalho, um balanço de energia foi incluído ao modelo matemático anterior de modo que a influência de diferentes perfis de temperatura pudesse ser considerada. O efeito das correntes laterais de alimentação de monômero sobre as propriedades do copolímero puderam ser previstas com suficiente precisão pelas simulações do modelo, as quais foram também validadas pelos resultados experimentais. Com base nas simulações matemáticas, um perfil ótimo de alimentação pôde ser calculado e experimentalmente aplicado na CPPP permitindo a produção de um copolímero mais homogêneo. Os resultados também permitiram a validação do modelo matemático como uma ferramenta confiável na predição de ensaios experimentais. Além disso, as vantagens da CPPP puderam ser verificadas pelo seu desempenho adequado como reator tubular para processos contínuos de copolimerização em emulsão. Finalmente, os resultados indicaram a possibilidade de melhorias adicionais nas propriedades do polímero através do emprego de diferentes temperaturas e perfis de alimentação de outros reagentes ao longo da coluna. / Industrial emulsion polymerization processes are usually performed in batch or semi-batch stirred tanks, or in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR). Continuous reactors have the advantage of being smaller and providing a better product quality control by the reduction of the batch-to-batch variations. In addition, periodical self-sustained oscillations in monomer conversion and in particle size that are usually observed in CSTR can be minimized in tubular reactors presenting good radial mixing. Such conditions can be achieved in tubular reactors by using adequate static mixing devices combined with pulsed (oscillatory) flow. The aim of this work is to report the development of a continuous emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate performed in a pulsed sieve plate column (PSPC). In order to improve its operational flexibility, the column is composed of five sections, each one presenting independent lateral feed and temperature controls. Depending on the monomer feeding strategy, a composition drift can be noticed during the emulsion copolymerization process of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate, due to the large differences in reactivity ratios and aqueous phase solubility between these monomers. In this case, the PSPC provides different operational feeding possibilities which allow controlling the copolymer composition by feeding the more reactive monomer along the column. For this reason, in this study the effect of the number of lateral feed streams on the polymer properties was evaluated. Different numbers of lateral monomer feed streams were employed in the experimental runs. Differences in the uniformity of the copolymer composition can be noticed along the reactor depending on the number of lateral feed streams applied in each test. In order to allow temperature variations, during each reaction only the inlet temperature of the cooling jackets was fixed. A developed mathematical model based on the axially dispersed plug-flow model was used to simulate the reactions. In the present study the energy balance was included in the mathematical model so that the influence of different temperature profiles could be taken into account. The effect of lateral monomer feed streams over the copolymer properties could be predicted with sufficient accuracy by model simulations which were also validated by the experimental results. Based on mathematical simulations, an optimal feeding profile could be calculated and experimentally applied in the PSPC allowing the production of a more homogeneous copolymer. The results also permitted the validation of the mathematical model as a reliable tool in the prediction of experimental runs. Furthermore, the advantages of the PSPC could be verified by its adequate performance as a tubular reactor for continuous emulsion copolymerization processes. Finally, the results indicate the possibility of further improvements in other polymer properties by employing different temperature and feeding profiles of other reagents along the column.

No description available.

Use of a mixed triisobutylaluminum/1,1-diphenylhexyllithium intiator enabled the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate at room temperature, resulting in narrow molecular weight distributions and syndiorich structures. Polymerizations were controlled above Al:Li = 2, and control significantly decreased at elevated temperatures above 25 °C. A significant increase in Tg with increasing control of syndiotacticity demonstrated the ability to tailor polymer properties using this technique. Analysis with MALDI-TOF/TOF spectroscopy revealed the dominance of a back-biting side reaction at elevated temperatures. Hydroxy-functional random and block copolymers of n-butyl acrylate (nBA) and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate were synthesized using nitroxide mediated polymerization. Controlled polymerization was demonstrated, resulting in narrow polydispersities and linear molecular weight vs. conversion plots. In situ FTIR spectroscopy monitored the polymerizations and revealed pseudo first order rate kinetics for random copolymerizations. Protection of the hydroxyl using trimethylsilyl chloride alleviated isolation issues of amphiphilic polymer products. For the first time zwitterion-containing copolymers were electrospun to form nanoscale fibers with diameters as low as 100 nm. Free radical copolymerization of nBA and sulfobetaine methacrylamide produced zwitterionic copolymers with 6-13 mol % betaine. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed a rubbery plateau and biphasic morphology similar to ionomers. Electrospinning from chloroform/ethanol solutions (80/20 v/v) at 2-7 wt % afforded polymeric fibers at viscosities below 0.02 Pa™s, which is the lowest viscosity observed for fiber formation in our laboratories. We hypothesized that intermolecular interactions rather than chain entanglements dominated the electrospinning process. Solution rheology of zwitterionic copolymers containing 6 and 9 mol % sulfobetaine methacrylate functionality revealed two concentration regimes with a boundary at ~1.5 – 2.0 wt %, regardless of molecular weight. This transition occurred at an order of magnitude lower specific viscosity than the entanglement concentration (Ce) for poly(nBA), and correlated to the onset of fiber formation in electrospinning. Comparison to existing models for polymer solution dynamics showed closest agreement to Rubinstein's theory for associating polymers, in support of our hypothesis that zwitterionic interactions dominate solution dynamics. The effect of ionic liquid (IL) uptake on mechanical properties and morphology of zwitterionic copolymers was explored using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate (EMIm ES). Dynamic mechanical analysis and impedance spectroscopy revealed a significant change in properties above a critical uptake of ~10 wt % IL. X-ray scattering revealed a significant swelling of the ionic domains at 15 wt % IL, with a 0.3 nm-1 shift in the ionomer peak to lower scattering vector. Results indicated the water-miscible IL preferentially swelled ionic domains of zwitterionic copolymers. / Ph. D.

No description available.

For the first time nonwoven fibrous scaffolds were electrospun from a low molar mass gemini ammonium surfactant, N,N–-didodecyl-N,N,N–,N–-tetramethyl-N,N–-ethanediyl-di-ammonium dibromide (12-2-12). Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and solution rheological experiments revealed micellar morphological transitions of 12-2-12 in water and water:methanol (1:1 vol). Electrospinning efforts of 12-2-12 from water did not produce fibers at any concentration, however, electrospinning 12-2-12 in water:methanol at concentrations greater than 2C* produced, hydrophilic continuous fibers with diameters between 0.9 and 7 μM. Photo-reactive surfactants were synthesized to electrospin robust surfactant membranes. Before electrospinning it was important to fundamentally understand the structure-property relationship of gemini surfactants. The thermal and solution properties were explored for a series of ammonium gemini surfactants using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and conductivity experiments. The Kraft temperature (Tk) was measured in water and water:methanol (1:1 vol) to investigate the influence of solvent on the surfactant solution properties. Other experiments investigate how associated photo-curable architectures are applicable in macromolecular architectures, to gain a fundamental understanding of how hydrogen bonding associations influence the photo-reactivity of functionalized acrylic copolymers. Novel hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives (HMPSAs) were developed from acrylic terpolymers of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and methyl acrylate (MA) functionalized with hydrogen bonding and photo-reactive functionalities. The synergy of hydrogen bonding and photo-reactivity resulted in higher peel values and rates of cinnamate photo-reactivity with increasing urethane concentration. Random copolymers of poly(n-butyl acrylate (nBA)-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)) were functionalized with hydrogen bonding and photo-reactive groups to explore the photo-curing of associated macromolecular architectures. The influence of urethane hydrogen bonding on the photo-reactivity of cinnamate-functionalized acrylics was investigated with photo-rheology and UV-vis spectroscopy. Cinnamate-functionalized samples displayed an increase in modulus with exposure time, and the percentage increase in modulus decreased as the urethane content increased. The synergy of hydrogen bonding and photo-reactive groups resulted in higher rates of cinnamate photo-reactivity with increasing urethane concentration. Electrospun fibers were in situ photo-crosslinked to develop fibrous membranes from cinnamate functionalized low Tg acrylics. Electrospinning was conducted approximately 55 °C above the Tg of the cinnamate acrylate and the electrospun fibers did not retain their fibrous morphology without photo-curing. However, electrospun fibers were collected that retained their fibrous morphology and resisted flow when in situ photo-cured during electrospinning. The intermolecular photo-dimerization of cinnamates resulted in a network formation that prevented the low Tg cinnamate acrylate from flowing. / Ph. D.

Dans ce travail, nous avons souhaité étudier l'impact de la structure sur les propriétés adhésives enexplorant différentes architectures dont des étoiles à trois branches de longueur importante, elles-mêmesramifiées par des branches longues, synthétisées en plusieurs étapes par polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée.Nous avons également étudié des polymères linéaires et des copolymères à bloc. Ils sont en particulier constituésde poly(acrylate de n-butyle) naturellement collant à température ambiante, permettant ainsi une étude despropriétés adhésives sans formulation. Toutefois, la masse molaire entre enchevêtrements élevée du PnBA s'estavérée être un frein car les techniques de polymérisation choisies n’ont pas permis la synthèse de massesmolaires suffisamment élevées pour obtenir le comportement typique d'une étoile possédant les niveaux decomplaisance visés. Etant donné qu'une grande part de l'énergie dissipée lors du décollement est due à laformation et à l'extension d'une structure fibrillaire, nous avons proposé d'explorer les propriétés rhéologiquesdans le domaine linéaire mais également aux grandes déformations par des tests d'élongation. Par ailleurs, destests de tack avec une visualisation par caméra rapide des phénomènes ayant lieu au sein des échantillons durantle décollement ont été mis en place. Nous avons confronté les propriétés rhéologiques et les performancesadhésives pour toutes les structures analysées. Des mélanges de polymères linéaires avec une très haute massemolaire peuvent présenter du rhéodurcissement, et nous avons confirmé que les conditions d'apparition sontlimitées si la polymolécularité devient trop importante. Pour les polymères en étoile, nous avons plusparticulièrement analysé l’importance de la complaisance d’équilibre sur les performances adhésives. Lescopolymères à bloc présentant une tenue suffisante pour être analysés en élongation ont montré un fortrhéodurcissement, mais une propagation de fissure interfaciale lors des tests de tack, par manque dedéformabilité, empêchant de bénéficier de l'apport du rhéodurcissement. / In this work, we studied the effect of polymer structure on adhesive properties exploring variousarchitectures including stars having three very long arms and branched themselves, synthesized with severalsteps by controlled radical polymerization. We also studied linear polymers and block copolymers. They havebeen made with poly(n-butyl acrylate) naturally sticky at room temperature, allowing to work withoutformulation. However, high molecular weight between entanglements of PnBA has shown to be a brake becausechosen polymerization techniques did not allow the synthesis of sufficient high molecular weights to obtaintypical behavior of star having targeted compliance levels. Considering that a large part of the energy dissipatedduring debonding is due to the formation and extension of a fibrillar structure, we proposed to explore linearrheological properties but also at large strains with elongational tests. Furthermore, tack tests with high-speedcamera display of phenomena occurring within samples during debonding have been set up. We comparedrheological properties with adhesive performances for all analyzed structures. Linear polymers blended with veryhigh molecular weight could exhibit strain hardening, and we confirmed that appearance conditions are limitedwith polydispersity. For star-shaped polymers, we particularly analyzed the impact of the compliance on adhesiveperformances. Block copolymers having a sufficient holding to be analyzed in elongation have shown a strongstrain hardening, but propagation of interfacial fracture during tack tests, because of a deformability lack,preventing the strain hardening benefit.

Copolímeros casca-núcleo de poli(acrilato de butila) (núcleo) e poliestireno (casca) foram sintetizados por meio de polimerização em emulsão, conduzida em duas etapas. A adição de ácido itacônico como monômero funcional na polimerização do núcleo foi realizada para verificar seu efeito sobre suas propriedades mecânicas e de processamento. Os copolímeros foram caracterizados por espalhamento dinâmico de luz (DLS), microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET), cromatografia de exclusão por tamanho (SEC), espectrometria na região do infravermelho (FTIR) e calorimetria diferencial por varredura (DSC). A incorporação do monômero funcional foi confirmada por DSC e quantificada por titulação. A proporção de poli(acrilato de butila) e poliestireno influenciou diretamente o processamento e as propriedades mecânicas do polímero. Os copolímeros com teores de poliestireno acima de 50% foram processados por compressão e extrusão a temperatura ambiente, apresentando comportamento baroplástico. A presença do monômero funcional não alterou o processamento do polímero e melhorou significativamente sua resistência à tração, aumentando sua tenacidade / Core shell copolymers of poly(butyl acrylate) cores and polystyrene shells were synthesized in a two-stage emulsion polymerization. The addition of itaconic acid as functional monomer in the core polymerization was carried out in order to study its influence on polymer processing and mechanical properties. The copolymers were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The functional monomer incorporation was confirmed by DSC and quantified by titration. The poly(butyl acrylate) and polystyrene proportions had a direct influence on the polymer processing and mechanical properties. Copolymers with polystyrene contents higher than 50% presented baroplastic behavior and they could be processed at room temperature by compression molding and extrusion. The presence of itaconic acid did not affect polymer processing and significantly improved tensile resistance, increasing its toughness