Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Oligomeric emulsifiers were prepared by the technique described by Roe, with special care of composition and molecular weight. Acrylic acid was polymerized in 2‐propanol with lauroyl peroxide as initiator in the presence (at various ratios) of 1‐dodecanethiol (<jats:bold>8</jats:bold>) as transfer agent to control the chain length. A good agreement was found between the various methods used for kinetic determination and oligomer characterization (<jats:sup>1</jats:sup>H NMR, sulfur analysis, vapor pressure osmometry, acidimetry, GPC). Values of <jats:italic>k</jats:italic><jats:sub>p</jats:sub><jats:italic>k</jats:italic><jats:sub>t</jats:sub><jats:sup>‐1/2</jats:sup>, transfer constants for thiol <jats:bold>8</jats:bold> and solvent, nature of chain ends, polydispersity, and molecular weight were determined. Polymer fractionation was successfully performed using different solvents for recovery.</jats:p>