Fast Transient Fluorescence Technique (FTRF) for Studying Vapor-Induced Latex Film Formation

Abstract

A fast transient fluorescence (FTRF) technique was used to study latex film formation induced by organic solvent vapor. Seven different films with the same latex content were prepared separately from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles and exposed to vapor of various chloroform–heptane mixtures in seven different experiments. Latex films were prepared from pyrene (Py)-labeled latex particles and fluorescence lifetimes of Py were monitored during vapor-induced film formation. It was observed that pyrene lifetimes decreased as vapor exposure time increased. A Stern–Volmer kinetic analysis was used for low quenching efficiencies to interpret the decrease in pyrene lifetimes. A Prager–Tirrel model was employed to obtain back-and-forth frequencies, ν, of the reptating PMMA chains during latex film formation induced by solvent vapor. ν values were found to be correlated with chloroform content in vapor mixture. It was observed that polymer interdiffusion obeyed a t1/2 law during film formation. The results of optical transmission experiments were found to support these findings.