Synthesis of Ag/fluorine-containing polyacrylate latex stabilized by Ag nanoparticle hybrid amphiphilic random copolymer micelles via Pickering emulsion polymerization and its application on fabric finishing

Abstract

Ag/fluorine-containing polyacrylate latex was successfully synthesized via Pickering emulsion polymerization using Ag/poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-hexafluorobutyl acrylate) (Ag/P(DMAEMA-co-HFBA)) hybrid micelles as particle emulsifiers. The influences of introducing the Ag nanoparticles (NPs) component and the concentration of Ag/P(DMAEMA-co-HFBA) hybrid micelles on emulsion polymerization and finished cotton fabric properties were studied. The results showed that the Ag/fluorine-containing polyacrylate latex had a higher conversion, smaller particle size than the fluorine-containing polyacrylate latex using P(DMAEMA-co-HFBA) micelles as emulsifiers, indicating the positive effect of Ag NPs on emulsion polymerization. And thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) proved that Ag NPs improved the thermal stability of the latex film. Moreover, the surface of the cotton fabric finished by Ag/fluorine-containing polyacrylate latex showed more rough morphology, better hydrophobicity and excellent antibacterial activity owing to the synergistic effect of the cationic fluorine-containing polyacrylate compounds and Ag nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the presence of Ag NPs also improved the tensile strength of the finished cotton fabric, but reduced slightly the whiteness. When the concentration of Ag/P(DMAEMA-co-HFBA) hybrid micelle emulsifier was 8 mg/mL, the Ag/fluorine-containing polyacrylate latex particles presented regular raspberry-shaped with an average diameter of 120 nm, and the water/oil contact angles of finished cotton fabric attained 145° and 90°, respectively. In addition, the finished cotton fabric exhibited excellent antibacterial properties against both S. aureus and E. coli as the concentration of Ag/P(DMAEMA-co-HFBA) hybrid micelles was 12 mg/mL. The mechanism for the formation of Ag/fluorine-containing polyacrylate latex was proposed.