Processes for microemulsion polymerization employing novel microemulsion systems

A microemulsion comprising

• a first phase including a low-polarity fluid material which is a gas under standard temperature and pressure and has a cloud-point density,
• a second phase including a polar fluid, a monomer substantially soluble in said polar fluid, and a microemulsion promoter for facilitating the formation of micelles including said monomer in said microemulsion;
• and
• micelles including said monomer in said microemulsion;
• the system being maintained at a pressure and temperature such the density of the low-polarity fluid exceeds the cloud-point density thereof.

A process for polymerizing a water-soluble monomer which comprises

• forming a substantially stable inverse microemulsion comprising a first substantially discontinuous phase including a fluid material which is either one of a gas under ambient conditions and a liquified gas, and a substantially continuous second phase including water, a water-soluble monomer, and a surfactant which is substantially soluble in said second phase for facilitating the formation of micelles including said monomer in said microemulsion;
• forming micelles including said monomer in said microemulsion;
• introducing a polymerization initiator capable of passing through said continuous phase and into said micelles of said discontinuous phase;
• and
• polymerizing said monomer in said micelles to produce a polymeric material.