The Preparation of Core–Shell P(St-MMA)–SiO2 Hybrid Nanoparticles and Filling in the Styrene/n-butyl Acrylate Adhesive

Abstract

In this study, core–shell poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate) (P(St-MMA))–SiO2 hybrid nanoparticles were prepared successfully by emulsion polymerization. Firstly, nanosilica particles were modified by oleic acid (OA) in order to introduce the polymerization active vinyl groups and hydrophobic groups onto the nanosilica. This was followed by graft copolymerization onto the modified nanosilica particles to obtain P(St-MMA)–SiO2 hybrid nanoparticles. The hybrid nanoparticles were characterized by: transmission electron microscope (TEM); Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR); dynamic light scattering (DLS); and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicate that the hybrid particles had a regular spherical morphology with a diameter ranging from 50 to 80 nm. A reasonable mechanism for the preparation of the core–shell hybrid nanocomposites was presented. The obtained hybrid nanoparticles were subsequently (incorporated into) filled in the poly(styrene-n-butyl acrylate) (PSBA) latex. The effect of (hybrid nanoparticle concentration) filling content on the physicochemical properties of PSBA latex and the resulting node strength per monofilanment of the fibre glass gridding cloth was investigated. The results indicated that the node strength/monofilanment of the fibre glass gridding cloth coated with the PBSA latex filled with 1.0 wt% hybrid nanoparticles demonstrated greatest improvement among all the investigated PSBA latex. This result is related to the rheological properties of the latex. Moreover, the water-resistance property of PSBA composite film was found to be enhanced when compared with that of unfilled PSBA film.