Research of the Influence of Silicate Fillers on Water Absorption and Microstructure of Styrene-Acrylic Dispersion Coatings

Abstract

Permeability is important to ensure the protective properties of coatings based on styrene-acrylic dispersions. This indicator characterizes the complex of insulating properties of coatings, their ability to prevent the penetration of liquids, vapors and gases from the environment to the surface to be protected. It was studied the effect of aluminosilicate microspheres, which are characterized by the hydrophilic nature of the surface and highly dispersed silicate filler aerosil with a hydrophobised surface on the water absorption of styrene-acrylic coatings. Decreased of water absorption of styrene-acrylic coatings filled with aluminosilicate microspheres with the introduction of hydrophobised aerosil is linked to the fact that the fine aerosil with a high specific surface area provides the formation of a more densely packed structure. Thus, partially filling the interspherical space, which is formed by particles of microspheres with a diameter of 10-100 μm and reduces the surface defect of the styrene-acrylic coating. Localization on the surface of defective structures of particles of hydrophobised aerosil leads to a decrease in wetting of defective structures with water. Resulting deteriorating wetting the surface of the styrene-acrylic coating. Micrographs were taken to assess the nature of the distribution of aerosil on the surface of the styrene-acrylic coating. The analysis of the obtained micrographs confirms that the introduction of microspheres form large agglomerates, between which there are vacancies, which will negatively affect the technological and operational properties of the developed coatings. At the same time, the introduction of aerosil allows to obtain a more orderly structure, which allows to obtain a coating with lower internal stresses, increased aggregate stability and, as a consequence, with improved technological and operational properties.