ISSN:
1435-1536
Keywords:
Emulsioncopolymers
;
carboxylicmonomers
;
analyticalultracentrifuge
;
mechanicalspectroscopy
;
electronmicroscopy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Abstract Copolymer latices of butylacrylate (BA) with acrylic and methacrylic acid (AA and MAA) were prepared by batch type emulsion polymerization, and, for comparison, copolymers with identical monomer composition were prepared by batch type solution polymerization. The distribution of the carboxylic monomers in the latex particles and the serum was studied by density gradient and sedimentation experiments with the analytical ultracentrifuge. Dynamic mechanical measurements of films of these copolymers were used to determine the storage and loss moduli as a function of temperature. From these measurements the position and extension of the glass transition range on the temperature scale is obtained. For heterogeneous emulsion copolymers with two glass transition temperatures the distribution of the carboxylic monomer units in the different copolymer phases can be determined. Electron microscopy of ultra thin cross-sections of stained films gave further insight into the film morphology. The combination of the results obtained with the different methods gives rise to the following clues: In the BA/AA latices about 40% (by weight) of the total AA used in the recipe are found in the serum as a water soluble polymer, about 50% are found to increase the glass transition temperatureT g of the bulk of the BA copolymer and, therefore, are thought to be incorporated into the interior of the latex particles, and the remaining 10% are, conclusively, located on the particle surface. In the BA/MAA latices no water soluble copolymer could be detected in the serum, about 90% of the MAA used is found in the bulk of the copolymer, and about 10% form a second hard phase on the surface of the latex particles. Dynamic mechanical measurements on the copolymer latex films show at least two phases with different glass transition temperatures: the bulk of the copolymer with a relatively low content of (M)AA units and a glass transition range at low temperatures, and a second (M)AA rich phase with a highT g. The latter phase forms a honeycomb-like structure surrounding the packed latex particles. That results in a three-dimensional network of polymer with a highT g extending throughout the latex film. In spite of the fact that this phase is built from a small fraction of the total copolymer only, it has a very pronounced influence on the performance behaviour of latex films.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01412754
Permalink