New regulations, market needs and customer requirements demand new emulsion formulations that are low in VOC content. Many of these new formulations use hydrophobic monomers that present significant challenges regarding productivity and monomer conversion. Recent development work with the formaldehyde-free reducing agent Bruggolite® FF6 M (FF6) in emulsion redox systems has shown that it is capable of substantially reducing free monomers, reaction time and yellowing. It offers other benefits as well.
Emulsion polymerization redox systems have historically used ascorbic acid (AA) or sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate (SFS) reducers along with t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) oxidizer. These systems are well established and have been used for emulsion polymer production for more than 50 years. Bruggolite FF6 M is relatively new, is more powerful than either AA or SFS, is formaldehyde free and is best suited for lower-pH reactions.