Editing Emulsion polymerization (section)

=== Interval 1 ===
When radicals generated in the aqueous phase encounter the monomer within the micelle, they initiate polymerization. The conversion of monomer to polymer within the micelle lowers the monomer concentration and generates a monomer concentration gradient. Consequently, the monomer from monomer droplets and uninitiated micelles begin to diffuse to the growing, polymer-containing, particles. Those micelles that did not encounter a radical during the earlier stage of conversion begin to disappear, losing their monomer and surfactant to the growing particles. The theory predicts that after the end of this interval, the number of growing polymer particles remains constant.