Abstract: Anew kind of mosaic latex particles with gradient distribution of hard polymer have been synthesized through two-stage emulsion polymerization based on natural rubber latex. One or two or three of styrene, methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, isobornyl acrylate were used as hard monomer in order to prepare interpenetrating polymer network. When oleinic acid was selected as emulsifier, t-butylhydroperoxide-tetraethylene pentamine as oxi-reduction initiation system, the polymerization proceeded for 6 h in natural rubber latex smoothly with the 99% conversion of monomer. The effects of emulsifiers and the initiators on the polymerization were studied; the effects of crosslinker, swelling degree, hard monomer on morphology of the title latex particles were also investigated. The result of morphology analysis of the latex showed that the latex particle was mosaic structure with hard polymer gradient distributed.

Key words: Mosaic latex particles, Natural rubber latex, Seed emulsion polymerization, Latex interpenetrating polymer network