Abstract
Styrene–acrylic emulsions containing hydroxyl functional monomer unit’s component are widely used for maintenance coating. In this paper, a stable emulsifier-free styrene–acrylic emulsion with solid content over 43% could be obtained in 210 min via reverse iodine transfer polymerization (RITP). By adding a mixture of methacrylic acid (MAA) and poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) into a system containing a high content of hydroxyl functional monomer component (19.4 wt.% of the total monomer mass), styrene (St) could be copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA); the modified film exhibited good hardness properties, good adhesive properties, and low water absorption. An increase in the amount of PEGMA decreased the glass transition temperature (Tg). When 1.4 times the reference amount of initiator was added, the highest molecular weight Mn could reach 40,000 g.·mol−1 with 0.25 times the reference amount of iodine in the emulsion. The largest tensile strength of the dried emulsion film over 5.5 MPa endowed the material with good mechanical properties. Living polymerization was proven by the kinetics of RITP emulsion and chain extension reaction. TEM micrographs manifest the emulsification of the seed random copolymer. This paper may provide a potential methodology for preparing polymer materials with excellent mechanical properties.
Highlights
Styrene–acrylic emulsions are widely used as industrial maintenance coating for the acrylate unit’s resistance to photodegradation and the styrene unit’s resistance to hydrolysis [1,2]
When hard monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA) participated in the polymerization, the emulsion was stable, the monomer conversion was higher than 95%, and the solid content was over 40 wt.%
Emulsifier-free styrene–acrylic emulsions prepared via reverse iodine transfer polymerization (RITP) were studied in this paper
Summary
Styrene–acrylic emulsions are widely used as industrial maintenance coating for the acrylate unit’s resistance to photodegradation and the styrene unit’s resistance to hydrolysis [1,2]. Methacrylic Acid (MAA), methacrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl ester (HEMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), n-butyl acrylate (BA), and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) are widely used monomers [14,15]. The carboxyl group from MAA units or acrylic acid (AA) units endows the polymer with adhesive properties [16]; the hydroxyl group from methacrylic acid (MAA) units or methacrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl ester (HEMA) can be crosslinked with amino resin [17], whereby the modified film with the crosslinked structure exhibits good mechanical properties [18]. Styrene–acrylic emulsion polymers with functional groups such as carboxyl or hydroxyl in the pendant group have wide application prospects
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
