The University of Sydney

Robert Goulston Gilbert

Ezio Rizzardo

Christopher Henry Such

Brian Stanley Hawkett

Algirdas Kazimieras Serelis

Christopher James Ferguson

Robert John Hughes

Edna Olejnik, Legal Representative

Nadaraja Subramaniam

Michael John Monteiro

Robert Balic

The invention provides a method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase, a dispersed organic phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and an amphiphilic RAFT agent as a stabilizer for said organic phase, and (ii) polymerizing said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said amphiphilic RAFT agent to form said aqueous dispersion of polymer particles, novel amphiphilic RAFT agents for use in this method, novel RAFT agents useful in making these amphiphilic RAFT agents and methods for their manufacture.

Aqueous dispersions of polymer particles

Process for forming a modified polymer having unsaturated carbon/carbon bonds including taking or making a colloidal dispersion of the polymer in an aqueous medium, swelling the polymer in the colloidal particles with at least one polymerizable monomer having a solubility in water of less than 10 molar, and inducing a free-radical polymerization of the monomer(s) within the swollen colloidal particles of the polymer such that the monomer enters into a grafting reaction with the polymer. The process is particularly appropriate for preparation of modified natural rubber latex.

Modified rubber polymer latex

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Newtown, Australia

Robert Goulston Gilbert