Preparation and characterization of fluorine-containing acrylic latex PSAs using a reactive surfactant

Abstract

Fluorinated acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) latexes based on butyl acrylate (BA), acrylic acid (AA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFMA) were synthesized via a monomer-starved seeded semi-continuous emulsion polymerization process using a reactive emulsifier. Effects of TFMA on the resultant PSA properties were comprehensively investigated. IR analysis indicated that TFMA can be introduced into the latex particles successfully through emulsion polymerization. Gel content and sol molecular weight of the PSA were not significantly affected by the addition of TFMA. It was also found that Tg and thermal stability of the PSA were both improved remarkably as TFMA content increased. Water resistance of the PSA was enhanced, while surface energy of the PSA was decreased with TFMA concentration increased, which were confirmed by XPS analysis. Moreover, the storage modulus (G’) and loss modulus (G”) of the PSA increased with TFMA content. Peel strength of the PSA on PP surface was not affected by the presence of TFMA, while peel strength of the PSA on SS and PC surfaces were first decreased and then increased with the TFMA content. Besides, the influences of reactive surfactant SR-10 and conventional surfactant CO-436 on the acrylic latex PSA were also compared.