Film formation of polymeric emulsions: Structure set-up and the pinhole effect characterized by microscopic techniques

Abstract

Drying of emulsions of special polymeric core-shell latexes results in structured films and coatings with advantageous material properties. Here, we focus on so-called “container particles”, consisting of a low viscosity core with a low glass transition (poly(2-ethylhexyl methacrylate), PEtHMA), covered by a thin shell of a cross-linked rubber (poly(n-butyl acrylate), PBA). These particles can be regarded as model emulsions of reactive polymeric oils with a very high colloidal stability. The film formation of these latexes was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the tapping mode as well as by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is shown that the films stay nanostructured after the drying process, i. e. they exhibit both a controlled topography as well as a network superstructure originating from the characteristics of the original dispersions. TEM allows to detect the whereabouts of the polar stabilizer. Both continous surfactant films as well as inverted micelles are found. A geometrically induced demixing phenomenon is found which enriches the polar components and might be the molecular reason for the so-called pinhole-effect, the failure of water-born coatings in contact with water.