Abstract:
A polystyrene seed latex composition is provided having a total emulsion polymer content of from 0.2 to 2.0 weight percent and a particle diameter less than 150 null. The seed latex is produced on a continuous basis by feeding to a continuous stirred reactor an emulsion stream and initiator stream. The feed streams are mixed in the stirred reactor at room temperature to produce the seed latex. Preferably, the initiator stream comprises a sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate reducing agent. The amount of initiator charged into the continuous seed reactor is sufficient to complete both the seed and a subsequent continuous latex polymerization reaction.