Synthesis and characterization of polymerizable surfactants based on ethoxylate alcohol cinnamate for emulsion polymerization

Abstract

A new polymerizable surfactant (surfmer) has been synthesized by esterification of (cinnamic acid) with nonionic surfactant (alcohol ethoxylate). The chemical structure of the prepared nonionic surfmer was characterized by mass spectroscopy. The surface-active properties of the prepared surfmer alongside its self-assembly properties were investigated by measuring electrical conductivity, The measured critical micelle concentration (CMC) of (EO/PO) cinnamate (surfmer) was (0.01mol/L). The order of the polymerization reaction for surfmer was found to be 1.3 and 2.8 using vinyl acetate (VAc) monomer and butyl acrylate (BuA) respectively; the rate of the reaction was faster in case of (BuA) at the same reaction conditions. The rate of conversion of (BuA) was slightly affected by increasing the surfmer concentration however the (VAc) shows a greater reduction of the rate of conversion by increasing the surfmer concentration. the morphology of poly(BuA) particles show more polydispersity and poly(VAc) looks nearly monodisperse better morphology (more defined and spherical particles) with this surfmer more than poly(BuA) at the same conditions. The number of polymer particles Nt was found to increase by increasing surfmer concentration. Increasing the surfmer concentration decreases the surface charge density for both Poly(VAc) and poly(BuA) particles, however, the lattices produced using prepared surfmer show good mechanical stability. Industrial application of prepared poly(VAc) homopolymer using the surfmer as a wood adhesive and the co-polymers latex of poly (VAc/BuA) in paint was carried out and compared with similar commercial types, from the results it was clear that superior properties of adhesion properties, water resistance in wood glue, on the other hand, great improving paint adhesion and washability and water-resistant of the paint for the emulsion latex prepared using cinnamate surfmer.