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Kang, H. Free Radical Suspension Polymerization. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/60331 (accessed on 07 October 2026).
Kang H. Free Radical Suspension Polymerization. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/60331. Accessed October 07, 2026.
Kang, Helena. "Free Radical Suspension Polymerization" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/60331 (accessed October 07, 2026).
Kang, H. (2026, September 23). Free Radical Suspension Polymerization. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/60331
Kang, Helena. "Free Radical Suspension Polymerization." Encyclopedia. Web. 23 September, 2026.
Free Radical Suspension Polymerization
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Free-radical suspension polymerization is a heterogeneous process in which droplets of a monomer-rich phase are dispersed in a continuous liquid phase, usually water, and polymerize by a free-radical chain mechanism. A monomer-soluble initiator generates radicals inside the droplets, so each stabilized droplet behaves approximately as a small bulk-polymerization reactor [1]. Protective colloids or particulate stabilizers limit droplet coalescence, while agitation and interfacial stabilization determine the droplet and final bead size distributions. Within each droplet, initiation, propagation, chain transfer, and bimolecular termination follow the usual free-radical mechanism. The product is generally obtained as polymer beads after separation from the continuous phase. Suspension polymerization differs from emulsion polymerization because initiation and principal growth occur in monomer droplets rather than in surfactant micelles or nucleated latex particles; recent reviews of aqueous dispersed radical polymerization maintain this distinction [2].

suspension polymerization free-radical polymerization monomer droplets bead polymers

References

  1. H. G. Yuan; G. Kalfas; W. H. Ray; Suspension Polymerization. J. Macromol. Sci. Part C: Polym. Rev. 1991, 31, 215-299. [CrossRef]
  2. Elena Rigo; Vincent Ladmiral; Sylvain Caillol; Patrick Lacroix-Desmazes; Recent advances in radical polymerization of bio-based monomers in aqueous dispersed media. RSC Sustain. 2023, 1, 788-813. [CrossRef]
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Subjects: Polymer Science
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register : Helena Kang
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Update Date: 23 Sep 2026
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