Neste trabalho, dois macro-agentes de transferência de cadeia para polimerizações via RAFT, à base de poli(óxido de etileno), isto é, PEO-CPADB e PEO-CPP, foram sintetizados via duas rotas químicas e utilizados como estabilizantes coloidais e como agentes de controle de massa molecular na polimerização em miniemulsão do estireno. Látices de poliestireno (PS), estabilizados estericamente pelos segmentos de PEO, foram obtidos utilizando 2,2\'-azobis(isobutironitrila) como iniciador e hexadecano como co-estabilizador. O consumo de monômero foi determinado via análise gravimétrica. O tamanho de partícula e a distribuição de tamanhos de partículas (PSD) foram determinados por espalhamento de luz (LS). As massas moleculares e a distribuição de massas moleculares (nwMM) dos polímeros foram determinadas por cromatografia de exclusão de tamanho (SEC). Os resultados mostraram que o diâmetro das gotas e das partículas de polímero, assim como a estabilidade coloidal dos látices são fortemente dependentes do tipo e da quantidade de agente de transferência de cadeia utilizado nas polimerizações. Deslocamentos das curvas de distribuição de massas moleculares para massas moleculares maiores, em função da conversão, indicaram que a maioria das cadeias poliméricas apresentava características de cadeias vivas. Análises de GPC também mostraram que a polimerização foi bem controlada quando uma quantidade do macro-agente RAFT PEO-CPP, igual a 4,4 x 10-3 mol.L-1 foi utilizada, o que foi indicado pelo baixos índices de polidispersão obtidos (1,05-1,42). / In this work, two poly(ethylene oxide)-based macro-RAFT agents, ie, PEO-CPADB and PEO-CPP, were synthesized via two chemical routes and used as a stabilizer and a control agent in the miniemulsion polymerization of styrene. Polystyrene (PS) latexes sterically stabilized by the PEO segments were obtained using 2,2?-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator and hexadecane as co-stabilizer. Monomer consumption was monitored by gravimetric analysis. The latex particle size and the particle size distribution (PSD) were measured by light scattering (LS). Molar masses and molar mass distributions (nwMM) of the polymers were determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The results showed that the droplet/particle sizes and the latexes stability are strongly dependent on the type and on the amount of macro-RAFT agent used in the polymerizations. Shifts of the SEC chromatograms toward higher molar masses with conversion indicated that the majority of the polymer chains are living chains. Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) analysis also showed that polymerization was well controlled when an amount of macro-RAFT PEO-RAFT agent equal to 4.4 x 10-3 mol. L-1 was used, since low polidispersity indices (1.05-1.42) was achieved.

Ce travail de thèse traite de l’élaboration de nanoparticules luminescentes à based’organolanthanides pour des applications d’imagerie biomédicale ou de marquage pour la lutte anticontrefaçon. Les organolanthanides ont été incorporés sans liaison covalente afin de préserver leursremarquables propriétés de luminescence et leur stabilité chimique. Deux types de nanoparticulesont été étudiés, des particules de latex et des billes de silice qui ont toutes les deux été synthétiséesen milieu hétérogène.La silice a été synthétisée par un procédé sol-gel en microémulsion inverse. Deux organolanthanidesluminescents initialement dissous dans les micelles inverses ont été piégés physiquement dans lasilice amorphe pendant sa formation. Une nouvelle méthode basée sur la quantification de l’activitéd’un isotope radioactif de l’Eu(III) a été développée pour étudier l’incorporation desorganolanthanides. Les propriétés physico-chimiques des organolanthanides influencent directementleur localisation au sein des particules et l’efficacité d’incorporation. L’étude approfondie de cesnanoparticules a permis de mettre en évidence une amélioration de la relaxivité d’un complexe deGd(III) quand il est confiné dans la silice.Les particules de latex ont été synthétisées par polymérisation radicalaire en miniémulsion directe.Différents organolanthanides de structures ionique ou non ionique ont été incorporés efficacementpar simple dissolution dans le monomère. L’incorporation du complexe de structure ionique anécessité l’utilisation d’un tensioactif cationique afin de le maintenir à l’intérieur des gouttelettes etgarantir son incorporation dans les particules de latex. Ce système permet d’incorporer un grandnombre de complexes et aucun relargage n’est observé après plusieurs mois. Le ligand utilisé permeten plus d’exciter jusqu’à dix terre rares simultanément. En faisant varier la nature et la quantité desorganolanthanides incorporés, il est ainsi possible de générer des codes optiques complexes sousune excitation unique. / This work deals with the elaboration of luminescent nanoparticles based on organolanthanides forbioimaging and optical coding. The organolanthanides were embedded without covalent linking inorder to preserve their remarkable luminescent properties and chemical stability. Two differenttypes of nanoparticles have been studied: polymer latexes and silica particles that were bothsynthesized in dispersed media.The silica nanoparticles were synthesized by a reverse microemulsion-mediated sol-gel process. Twoluminescent lanthanide chelates originally dissolved into water droplets were physically trapped intothe amorphous silica during its formation. A novel method based on a radioactive Eu(III) probe hasbeen developed to study the incorporation process. The physicochemical properties of the differentchelates had a strong influence on their localization within the particles and on the measuredincorporation efficiencies. This study finally allowed us to investigate the effect of Gd(III) complexesconfinement into silica nanoparticles.Luminescent polymer latexes based on organolanthanides have been synthesized by miniemulsionpolymerization. Several organolanthanides exhibiting a ionic structure or a non-ionic structure havebeen efficiently embedded into latex particles by simple dissolution in the corresponding monomers.For the ionic lanthanide chelate, a cationic surfactant was used to maintain the organolanthanidecomplex inside the droplets and guaranty and efficient incorporation. The resulting polymericluminescent nanoparticles showed excellent stability over leakage and a high loading capacity. Thisparticular ligand is able to efficiently sensitize over ten luminescent lanthanides, emitting in thevisible, the NIR or both regions. This allowed us to generate a large variety of color codes based onluminescence by tuning the emission signal using several lanthanide ions.

Neste trabalho, dois macro-agentes de transferência de cadeia para polimerizações via RAFT, à base de poli(óxido de etileno), isto é, PEO-CPADB e PEO-CPP, foram sintetizados via duas rotas químicas e utilizados como estabilizantes coloidais e como agentes de controle de massa molecular na polimerização em miniemulsão do estireno. Látices de poliestireno (PS), estabilizados estericamente pelos segmentos de PEO, foram obtidos utilizando 2,2\'-azobis(isobutironitrila) como iniciador e hexadecano como co-estabilizador. O consumo de monômero foi determinado via análise gravimétrica. O tamanho de partícula e a distribuição de tamanhos de partículas (PSD) foram determinados por espalhamento de luz (LS). As massas moleculares e a distribuição de massas moleculares (nwMM) dos polímeros foram determinadas por cromatografia de exclusão de tamanho (SEC). Os resultados mostraram que o diâmetro das gotas e das partículas de polímero, assim como a estabilidade coloidal dos látices são fortemente dependentes do tipo e da quantidade de agente de transferência de cadeia utilizado nas polimerizações. Deslocamentos das curvas de distribuição de massas moleculares para massas moleculares maiores, em função da conversão, indicaram que a maioria das cadeias poliméricas apresentava características de cadeias vivas. Análises de GPC também mostraram que a polimerização foi bem controlada quando uma quantidade do macro-agente RAFT PEO-CPP, igual a 4,4 x 10-3 mol.L-1 foi utilizada, o que foi indicado pelo baixos índices de polidispersão obtidos (1,05-1,42). / In this work, two poly(ethylene oxide)-based macro-RAFT agents, ie, PEO-CPADB and PEO-CPP, were synthesized via two chemical routes and used as a stabilizer and a control agent in the miniemulsion polymerization of styrene. Polystyrene (PS) latexes sterically stabilized by the PEO segments were obtained using 2,2?-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator and hexadecane as co-stabilizer. Monomer consumption was monitored by gravimetric analysis. The latex particle size and the particle size distribution (PSD) were measured by light scattering (LS). Molar masses and molar mass distributions (nwMM) of the polymers were determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The results showed that the droplet/particle sizes and the latexes stability are strongly dependent on the type and on the amount of macro-RAFT agent used in the polymerizations. Shifts of the SEC chromatograms toward higher molar masses with conversion indicated that the majority of the polymer chains are living chains. Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) analysis also showed that polymerization was well controlled when an amount of macro-RAFT PEO-RAFT agent equal to 4.4 x 10-3 mol. L-1 was used, since low polidispersity indices (1.05-1.42) was achieved.

Ce travail de recherche a pour objet l'application du procédé de polymérisation en miniémulsion de l'acétate de vinyle pour l'encapsulation de principes actifs à usage cosmétique. Ce procédé permet d'obtenir des latex à haut taux de solide et contenant une forte proportion de molécules actives. Ce travail est divisé en deux partie : l) la formation de nanoparticules et l'étude de l'incorporation de différents principes actifs, 2) la détermination de la morphologie des particules. Dans un premier temps, nous avons optimisé le procédé de polymérisation radicalaire en miniémulsion de l'acétate de vinyle. La composante hydrophobe indispensable à la bonne stabilité de la miniémulsion est assurée par le principe actif lui-même. Nous avons obtenu des latex stables pendant six mois à trois températures différentes : 4°C, 20°C et 40 °C et ce pour différents principes actifs. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons étudié la morphologie interne des nanoparticules. Une étude prédictive basée sur les mesures des tensions superficielles et interfaciales entre les différents composés de la miniémulsion indiquent une encapsulation partielle du principe actif par le polymère. Bien que difficiles à mener sur les latex de PAcV, les observations par microscopie électronique semblent confirment cette tendance. Un changement de tensioactif et l'addition de monomère lors de la réaction de polymérisation pourraient favoriser la formation de nanocapsules / The aim of this work is the encapsulation of active ingredients by vinyl acetate miniemulsion polymerization for cosmetic use. This process allows to obtain latexes with high solid content and containing high amount of active molecule. This work is divided into two parts: 1) nanoparticles formation by miniemulsion polymerization and incorporation of different active principles 2) determination of the nanoparticles morphology. At first, the process of radical miniemulsion polymerization in for vinyl acetate is optimized. The hydrophobe compound, which is essential for the miniemulsion stability, is ensured by the active principle itself. We obtained several stable latexes with different active molecules at three different temperatures: 277 °K, 293°K and 313°K during six months. In the second part of this work, we studied the internal morphology of nanoparticles. A predictive study, based on the surface and the interfacial tension measurements between the different compounds of miniemulsion has been undertaken, which indicates a partial engulfing of the active principle by the polymer. Although the observation of PVAc lattices by electronic microscopy may be questionable, these studies seem to confirm this trend. The change of the surfactant and the monomer addition during the reaction of polymerization can favour the formation of nanocapsules

Les objectifs du travail présenté ici sont de comprendre les procédés de formulation des gouttelettes et des particules afin de faire des hybrides polymère-polymère de qualité en dispersions aqueuses et d’utiliser notre compréhension fondamentale de ces procédés pour : 1. Augmenter le taux de conversion de(s) monomère(s) autant que possible. 2. Comprendre l’impact de ces procédés sur les propriétés des films hybrides. Des cas particuliers ont été étudiés dans des conditions commercialement viables (taux de solide de 50% en masse) basés sur deux systèmes appelés alkyde-acryliques et polyuréthane-acrylique. La préparation des miniémulsions, la polymérisation en miniémulsion et la caractérisation des latex hybrides, l’incorporation chimique d’alkyde et de polyuréthane dans les monomères acryliques ont été étudiés en détails. Nous sommes parvenus à synthétiser et caractériser des latex hybrides avec de haut taux de solides (50% en masse) composés de particules de 100nm de diamètre utilisables dans des applications de revêtement et d’adhésifs / The objectives of work presented in this thesis are to understand droplet and particle formulation processes in order to make useful polymer-polymer hybrids in aqueous dispersions and use our fundamental understanding of these processes to: 1. Improve monomer conversion as much as possible. 2. Understand impact of these processes on hybrid film properties. Specific case studies of interest under commercially feasible conditions (i.e. solids content of 50wt %) were done based on two systems namely alkyd-acrylic and polyurethane-acrylic. Miniemulsification, miniemulsion polymerisation and characterisation of hybrid latex, chemical incorporation of alkyd and polyurethane to acrylic monomers were studied in detail. We have been able to successfully synthesise and characterise hybrid latex of about 100nm in particle diameter and high solids content (50wt %) to be used in coating and adhesive applications

L'objectif de ce travail était la synthèse en une étape de nanoparticules à cœur de poly(n-butyl cyanoacrylate) et couronne hydrophile, par polymérisation en miniémulsion. Deux familles de polymères amphiphiles ont été utilisées pour stabiliser la polymérisation. La première est constituée de trois dérivés amphiphiles du dextrane synthétisés au laboratoire: DexP11, DexP16 et DexP22. La seconde est composée de dérivés commerciaux du POE: le Brij®78, le Brij®700, et le Tween®80. Après avoir vérifié leur stabilité dans les conditions de polymérisation, leurs propriétés tensioactives ont été caractérisées en tensiométrie dynamique. Bien que le n-butyl cyanoacrylate soit un monomère extrêmement réactif, des nanoparticules de poly(n-butyl cyanoacrylate) ont pu être synthétisées avec succès par polymérisation anionique et/ou radicalaire en miniémulsion. La nature et la concentration du polymère amphiphile dans la phase aqueuse lors de la polymérisation en miniémulsion contrôlent la taille des particules, leur taux de recouvrement et l'épaisseur de la couche hydrophile à leur surface. La masse molaire du polymère constituant le cœur de la nanoparticule est quant à elle influencée par le pH de la phase continue et le mode de polymérisation (anionique ou radicalaire). Enfin, l’étude de l'encapsulation et de la libération d'une molécule modèle, le pyrène, a été abordée / The aim of this study was the one-step synthesis via miniemulsion polymerization, of nanoparticles with a hydrophobic core based on poly(n-butyl cyanoacrylate) and a hydrophilic shell. Two families of amphiphilic polymers were used to stabilize the miniemulsion. The first one was constituted of three dextran derivatives synthesized in the laboratory: DexP11, DexP16 and DexP22. The other three stabilizers were commercial products based on PEO: Brij®78, Brij®700, and Tween®80. Their stability under the conditions used for miniemulsion polymerization was checked. Their adsorption at oil-water interface was studied by dynamic surface tension measurement. Despite the high reactivity of the monomer, nanoparticles of poly(n-butyl cyanoacrylate) were synthesized via anionic and/or radical miniemulsion polymerization. Particle size, surface coverage and hydrophilic layer thickness were controlled by the structure and the amount of the amphiphilic polymer in the continuous phase, while the molar mass of the poly(n-butyl cyanoacrylate) depending on the pH of the continuous phase and the polymerization mechanism (anionic or radical). Finally, the encapsulation and the release of a model compound were studied

Materiais nanocompósitos híbridos polímero-argila nos quais lamelas nanométricas de argila montmorilonita são encapsuladas e dispersas em matriz polimérica são em geral mais rígidas, tenazes e resistentes do que os materiais poliméricos convencionais e tem o potencial de aplicações em revestimentos e filmes com propriedades de barreira. Dentre as várias técnicas de preparação de nanocompósitos poliméricos, as técnicas de polimerização \"in-situ\" em emulsão e mini-emulsão vem sendo empregada na síntese de látices híbridos com lamelas de argilas encapsuladas pelo polímero. Neste trabalho foram preparados látices híbridos de poliestireno e argila montmorilonita esfoliada através de dois métodos: no primeiro, a polimerização em emulsão e miniemulsão convencional na presença de argila modificada com sal quaternário de amônio é realizada com surfatante catiônico; no segundo método, um surfatante aniônico reativo foi usado para modificar uma argila natural sódica e empregada na polimerização em emulsão. Os resultados obtidos tanto para a polimerização em emulsão como em miniemulsão empregando idênticos reagentes (argila organofílica modificada e surfatante catiônico) mostraram boa conversão, aumento na velocidade de polimerização com aumento da concentração de surfatante e de argila, aumento na temperatura de pico na máxima velocidade de decomposição (TG), aumento no módulo de armazenamento no patamar vítreo e no patamar borrachoso (DMTA) com aumento da concentração de argila, encontrando um valor mínimo em ambos a 5% de argila. Apesar dessas características positivas, não foi obtida a encapsulação das lamelas da argila que era o objetivo principal do trabalho. Por outro lado, o método de polimerização em emulsão não convencional com surfatante reativo mostrou baixa eficiência na conversão mas que se mostrou eficaz na encapsulação das lamelas da argila para os látices com baixa conversão e elevado diâmetro de partícula. / Polymer-clay nanocomposite materials, in which nanometer-thick layers of clay dispersed in polymers, are generally stiffer, stronger, and tougher than normal polymeric materials and can be potentially useful in a variety of applications. These polymer-clay nanocomposites can be prepared in several ways, namely by emulsion \"in-situ\" polymerisation where polymer chains are coagulated on silicate layers producing capped silicate layers are more or less uniformly dispersed in aqueous medium. The objective of this work is to prepare polymer-clay hybrid latexes with exfoliated clay platelets encapsulated inside latex particles in order to improve the exfoliation of the clay platelets in the final polymeric film. To achieve this objective two separate approaches have been investigated, first by conventional emulsion polymerization and miniemulsion polymerization in the presence of montmorillonite clay modified by cationic surfactant and in the other approach a reactive anionic surfactant was used to modify the natural montmorillonite clay layers by emulsion polymerization. The results for both the emulsion polymerization as in miniemulsion using identical reagents (organoclay modified and cationic surfactant) showed good conversion, polymerization rate increased with increasing concentration of surfactant and clay, increased peak temperature at maximum speed decomposition (TG), an increase in storage modulus in the glassy plateau and the rubbery plateau (DMTA) with increasing concentration of clay, finding a minimum value in both the 5% clay. Despite these positive characteristics, encapsulation was not obtained from lamellar clay that was the main objective. Moreover, the method of emulsion polymerization with non-conventional reactive surfactant showed low conversion efficiency but has proved effective in the encapsulation of the lamellae of the clay for the lattices with low conversion and high particle diameter.

Polímeros híbridos são caracterizados por conter numa mesma partícula dois tipos diferentes de polímero, normalmente incompatíveis e ligados por ligações covalentes. Neste trabalho, a síntese de um polímero híbrido acrílico-alquídico pelo processo de miniemulsão foi investigada. Com o objetivo de compreender como diferentes variáveis na fórmula afetam as características físico-químicas finais do látex, um planejamento experimental foi desenhado com o auxílio do software DX9 e os resultados analisados por modelos empíricos de superfície de resposta. Os fatores variados (variáveis independentes) foram: quantidade de co-estabilizante, surfactante e iniciador. Cada um dos fatores contribuiu para a alteração de pelo menos uma característica avaliada, e a sinergia entre eles afeta diretamente o teor de RDG, resposta indicativa do grau de grafitização entre as espécies. O coestabilizante contribuiu para o aumento do diâmetro médio de gotas e da polidispersidade de tamanho de partículas, enquanto reduziu a dureza do filme. A concentração de surfactante alterou o número de partículas por litro, reduzindo o diâmetro médio de partículas e aumentando a polidispersidade. O iniciador aumentou a conversão monomérica. Todas as dispersões de polímero híbrido produzidas apresentaram redução do tamanho médio de gotas para partículas, indicando evidência de nucleação secundária. As avaliações por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM) e microscopia de força atômica (AFM) mostraram que a morfologia obtida é do tipo núcleo-casca. / Hybrid polymers are defined by the presence of two or more different kinds of polymers in the same particle, typically incompatible and linked by covalent bonds. In this work, the synthesis of an alkyd-acrylic hybrid polymer produced by miniemulsion polymerization has been investigated. With the goal of understanding how different variables in the recipe affect the final characteristics of the latex, a design of experiment was planned using DX9 software and the results were analyzed by response surface methodology. The factors studied (independent variables) were: amount of co-stabilizer, surfactant and initiator. Each of these factors contributed to change at least one of the evaluated characteristics, and the synergy between them directly affects the RDG content, response of the polymer degree of grafting. Costabilizer contributed to increase the average droplets diameter and polydispersity of particle size, while reducing the film hardness. The amount of surfactant changed the number of particles, reducing the average particle size and increasing polydispersity. Initiator increased the monomer conversion. All hybrids dispersions presented a decrease in the droplet size to particle size, indicating evidence of secondary nucleation. Core-shell morphology was observed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Devido à importância industrial e tecnológica dos látices estabilizados com poli(álcool vinílico)/PVA e a dificuldade encontrada na etapa de polimerização em emulsão, na presença de monômeros hidrofóbicos e de PVA\'s com alto grau de hidrólise (>92%), a síntese de novos estabilizantes poliméricos derivados de PVA para utilização em reações de polimerização em emulsão e em miniemulsão se torna muito atraente e desafiadora. O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi sintetizar novos estabilizantes poliméricos do tipo poli(álcool vinílico-co-neodecanoato de vinila)/PVA-VV com alto grau de hidrólise e conseqüentemente com propriedades diferenciadas, para serem utilizados como estabilizantes nas reações de polimerização em emulsão e em miniemulsão do acetato de vinila (VAc) com o neo-nonanoato de vinila (VEOVA-9), visando a obtenção de adesivos com propriedades diferenciadas para colagem de madeiras. Os novos estabilizantes poliméricos foram obtidos em duas etapas: i) copolimerização em solução do VAc com o neo-decanoato de vinila (VEOVA-10); ii) hidrólise alcalina (NaOH/Metanol) do poli(acetato de vinila-coneodecanoato de vinila). As miniemulsões de VAc com VEOVA-9 com diferentes tipos de estabilizantes poliméricos foram preparadas em um homogeneizador de alta pressão do tipo \"Manton Gaulin\". Foi estudado o efeito dos estabilizantes poliméricos (PVA e PVA-VV) na etapa de emulsificação (diâmetro médio das gotas, polidispersão, estabilidade das miniemulsões) e na copolimerização em emulsão e em miniemulsão do VAc com o VEOVA-9, em processo batelada. O efeito do tipo de iniciador (persulfato de amônio/APS e hidroperóxido de tércio butila/TBHP e peróxido benzoato de tércio butila/TBPB, juntamente com o formaldeído sulfoxilato de sódio/SFS) na cinética da polimerização em miniemulsão do VAc com o VEOVA-9 foi estudado em processo semi-contínuo. A distribuição dos estabilizantes poliméricos (PVA e PVA-VV) entre a fase aquosa e a superfície das partículas de polímero (adsorvido/enxertado) foi determinada e correlacionada com a viscosidade e a estabilidade coloidal dos látices. Látices na condição ideal de cópia (1:1) das gotas de monômero para as partículas de polímero foram obtidos via polimerização em miniemulsão, apresentando propriedades diferenciadas, tais como, menores valores de viscosidade, menor concentração de coágulos e maior estabilidade de estocagem, em comparação com os látices obtidos em emulsão. / Due to the technological and industrial importance of latexes stabilized with poly(vinyl alcohol)/PVA and the difficulties related to the emulsion polymerization of hydrophobic monomers and the use of PVA having a high degree of hydrolysis (> 92%), the synthesis of new PVA based polymeric stabilizers for use in emulsion and miniemulsion polymerizations becomes very attractive and challenging. The aim of this work was to synthesize a new class of polymeric stabilizer, poly(vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl neo-decanoate)/PVA-VV, with a high degree of hydrolysis and differentiated properties to be used as stabilizers in the emulsion and miniemulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) with vinyl neo-nonanoate (VEOVA-9), that can be used as adhesive for wood bonding. New PVA based polymeric stabilizers with high degree of hydrolysis (94 - 98%) were synthesized in two steps: i) solution copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) with vinyl neo-decanoate (VEOVA-10) and ii) alkaline hydrolysis (NaOH/Methanol) of poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl neodecanoate). Miniemulsions of VAc/VEOVA-9 were prepared using the different polymeric stabilizers in a \"Manton Gaulin\" high pressure homogenizer. The effect of different initiators (ammonium persulfate/APS or tert-butyl hydro peroxide/TBHP and tert-butyl peroxide benzoate/TBPB in the presence of sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate/SFS) in the polymerization kinetic was evaluated. The effect of the type and concentration of polymeric stabilizer, in the emulsification step (average diameter of drops, stability of miniemulsions) as well in the polymerizations (rate of consumption of monomers, particle size and particles number) was investigated in this work. The partition of the polymeric stabilizers between the aqueous phase and the polymer particle surface (grafted/adsorbed) was determined and correlated with the viscosity and colloidal stability of latexes. Latexes with differentiated properties such as low-viscosity, lower grits content and improved storage stability, were obtained by miniemulsion polymerization with an ideal condition copy (1:1) of the monomer droplets to the polymer particles.

Materiais nanocompósitos híbridos polímero-argila nos quais lamelas nanométricas de argila montmorilonita são encapsuladas e dispersas em matriz polimérica são em geral mais rígidas, tenazes e resistentes do que os materiais poliméricos convencionais e tem o potencial de aplicações em revestimentos e filmes com propriedades de barreira. Dentre as várias técnicas de preparação de nanocompósitos poliméricos, as técnicas de polimerização \"in-situ\" em emulsão e mini-emulsão vem sendo empregada na síntese de látices híbridos com lamelas de argilas encapsuladas pelo polímero. Neste trabalho foram preparados látices híbridos de poliestireno e argila montmorilonita esfoliada através de dois métodos: no primeiro, a polimerização em emulsão e miniemulsão convencional na presença de argila modificada com sal quaternário de amônio é realizada com surfatante catiônico; no segundo método, um surfatante aniônico reativo foi usado para modificar uma argila natural sódica e empregada na polimerização em emulsão. Os resultados obtidos tanto para a polimerização em emulsão como em miniemulsão empregando idênticos reagentes (argila organofílica modificada e surfatante catiônico) mostraram boa conversão, aumento na velocidade de polimerização com aumento da concentração de surfatante e de argila, aumento na temperatura de pico na máxima velocidade de decomposição (TG), aumento no módulo de armazenamento no patamar vítreo e no patamar borrachoso (DMTA) com aumento da concentração de argila, encontrando um valor mínimo em ambos a 5% de argila. Apesar dessas características positivas, não foi obtida a encapsulação das lamelas da argila que era o objetivo principal do trabalho. Por outro lado, o método de polimerização em emulsão não convencional com surfatante reativo mostrou baixa eficiência na conversão mas que se mostrou eficaz na encapsulação das lamelas da argila para os látices com baixa conversão e elevado diâmetro de partícula. / Polymer-clay nanocomposite materials, in which nanometer-thick layers of clay dispersed in polymers, are generally stiffer, stronger, and tougher than normal polymeric materials and can be potentially useful in a variety of applications. These polymer-clay nanocomposites can be prepared in several ways, namely by emulsion \"in-situ\" polymerisation where polymer chains are coagulated on silicate layers producing capped silicate layers are more or less uniformly dispersed in aqueous medium. The objective of this work is to prepare polymer-clay hybrid latexes with exfoliated clay platelets encapsulated inside latex particles in order to improve the exfoliation of the clay platelets in the final polymeric film. To achieve this objective two separate approaches have been investigated, first by conventional emulsion polymerization and miniemulsion polymerization in the presence of montmorillonite clay modified by cationic surfactant and in the other approach a reactive anionic surfactant was used to modify the natural montmorillonite clay layers by emulsion polymerization. The results for both the emulsion polymerization as in miniemulsion using identical reagents (organoclay modified and cationic surfactant) showed good conversion, polymerization rate increased with increasing concentration of surfactant and clay, increased peak temperature at maximum speed decomposition (TG), an increase in storage modulus in the glassy plateau and the rubbery plateau (DMTA) with increasing concentration of clay, finding a minimum value in both the 5% clay. Despite these positive characteristics, encapsulation was not obtained from lamellar clay that was the main objective. Moreover, the method of emulsion polymerization with non-conventional reactive surfactant showed low conversion efficiency but has proved effective in the encapsulation of the lamellae of the clay for the lattices with low conversion and high particle diameter.