Effect of charge density,molecular weight,and hydrophobicity on polycations adsorption and flocculation of polystyrene latices and silica

Adsorption and flocculation behavior of two series of synthetic polycations was investigated in dispersions of silica and polystyrene latices with various particle size and surface charge densities. Polycations of the first series (polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride‐PDADMAC) varied in molecular weight only, while polycations of the second series (derivatives of polymethacrylic acid) varied in both molecular weight and hydrophobicity. We have found that maximum adsorbed amount of high molecular weight PDADMAC on latex particles was nearly independent of the surface charge density when the particle size was comparable to the polymer coil dimensions in solution. Both low and high molecular weight PDADMACs were efficient flocculants, although significantly lower amounts of high molecular weight polyelectrolyte were required for the phase separation in the dispersions due to particles aggregation through “charge patch” mechanism. The increase of polymer hydrophobicity leads to higher adsorbed amounts and broadening of flocculation window by polycations of the second series on both substrates. However, no strong enhancement of segment–surface interactions on hydrophobic substrates was observed. Since formation of multilayers upon adsorption was also excluded, the difference in adsorption and flocculation behavior was related to the more compact conformation of hydrophobically associating derivatives in solution and at the interface. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3422–3429, 2006     

Concentrated emulsion polymerization for preparation of β‐cyclodextrin‐supported chromatography columns

Concentrated inverse emulsion polymerization was used for making chromatography columns (based on crosslinked polystyrene divinylbenzene (PS‐DVB)) with pore sizes less than 10 μm. According to DSC‐thermal gravimetry thermograms, it was confirmed that the residual monomer concentration after polymerization process is negligible. For application of these columns in chiral chromatography, the β‐cyclodextrin is chemically fixed on the PS‐DVB resin pore surface. The presence of hydroxyl groups in the PS‐DVB resin after chemical modification was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. By chemical modification of the PS‐DVB resin, thermal stability increased up to 446°C. The structure of columns was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM evaluations showed that the porous structure of PS‐DVB resin was maintained intact after the chemical modification with β‐cyclodextrin. According to X‐ray data, presence of the crystalline domain that is related to β‐cyclodextrin is confirmed.© 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 857–863, 2006     

In situ preparation and properties of high‐solid‐content and low‐viscosity poly(methyl methacrylate/n‐butyl acrylate/acrylic acid)/poly(styrene/acrylic acid) composite latexes

With monodispersed poly(methyl methacrylate/n‐butyl acrylate/acrylic acid) [P(MMA/BA/AA)] seeded latex with a particle size of 485 nm and a solid content of 50 wt % as a medium, a series of stable P(MMA/BA/AA)/poly(styrene/acrylic acid) composite latexes with a high solid content (70 wt %) and low viscosities (500–1000 mPa · s when the shear rate was 21 s^?1) was prepared in situ via simple two‐step semicontinuous monomer adding technology. The coagulum ratio of polymerization was about 0.05 wt %. The particle size distribution of such latexes was bimodal, in which the large particle was about 589 nm and the small one was about 80 nm. The latexes combined good mechanical properties with good film‐forming properties. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the corresponding latex film had a two‐phase structure. The morphology of the latex film was characterized with atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1815–1825, 2007     

Alkoxysilane‐functionalized acrylic copolymer latexes. I. Particle size,morphology, and film‐forming properties

Via the conventional emulsion copolymerization of acrylic monomers and vinyl‐containing alkoxysilane monomers with three siloxane groups, siloxane groups were added to acrylic copolymers to make alkoxysilane‐functionalized acrylic copolymer latexes. In producing stable polymer latexes, seeded polymerization was superior to the other two processes, batch and continuous addition polymerization. The experimental results showed that vinyltriethoxysilane–acrylic copolymer latexes were capable of film forming. In contrast, the incorporation of methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane gave rise to the formation of highly crosslinked acrylic copolymer latexes, which had poor film‐forming properties. Relatively small monodispersed particles with particle sizes of less than 100 nm were formed. These particles had a core–shell structure, although some of them were asymmetric. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 954–960, 2004     

Effect of the monomer ratio on the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate butyl acrylate) latex‐modified mortars

This article deals with the effect of the monomer ratio on the typical properties of polymer‐modified mortars with poly(methyl methacrylate butyl acrylate) latices. Polymer‐modified mortars, with methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate copolymer latices of various methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate ratios, were prepared with different polymer/cement ratios and were tested for their workability, air content, compressive strength, flexural strength, and water absorption. On the basis of the test results, the effects of the monomer ratio and polymer/cement ratio on the typical properties were examined. The properties of the latex‐modified mortars were affected to a great extent by both the monomer ratio and polymer/cement ratio. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2403–2409, 2004     

The Effect of Lowering the Surface Free Energy of Water on the Thermodynamic Work of Adhesion

The dispersive and polar force components of surface free energy have been measured for water left in contact with films dried from various emulsion adhesives. The polar component was lowered but the dispersive components were about 28 mJ m^?2 in each case. From these measurements of thermodynamic work of adhesion in the presence of contaminated water have been calculated for adhesive-polystyrene interfaces. An equation has been derived giving the dependence of thermodynamic work of adhesion upon the total surface free energy of water. It shows that the thermodynamic work of adhesion decreases as the surface free energy of water is lowered, but it eventually reaches a minimum and then may increase slightly.     

Cationic fluorinated polyacrylate core‐shell latex with pendant long chain alkyl: Synthesis,film morphology,and its performance on cotton substrates

We synthesized a novel cationic fluorinated polyacrylate latex (FLDH) with pendant long chain alkyl by copolymerization of perfluoroalkyl ethyl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, and 2‐hydroxypropyl acrylate. FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, TEM, DSC, and TGA were used to characterize the as‐prepared FLDH. Then fine morphology, components, and hydrophobicity of films on silicon wafer and cotton substrates were investigated by scanning electron microscope, field emission scanning electronic microscope, atomic force microscope, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle meter, etc. Results showed that the FLDH particles had quasi‐spherical core‐shell structure with an average diameter of 144 nm. The core‐shell FLDH film thus had two T_g and its thermal property was improved compared to fluorine‐free acrylate latex. FLDH could form a film on both the cotton fiber and silicon wafer substrate. At an amplification of <60,000 (of the original fiber) and the observation rule (working distance) of >100 nm, FLDH showed a smooth resin film on the treated fabric/fiber surface. However, as the observation rule decreased to 2 nm‐almost a molecular lever‐the FLDH film mostly exhibited an inhomogeneous structure and uneven morphology in its atomic force microscope images. There were many low or high peaks in FLDH topography. Consequently, in 5 μm² scanning field, the root mean square roughness of FLDH film reached to 0.506 nm. XPS analysis indicated the perfluoroalkyl groups had the tendency to enrich at the surface. In addition, water contact angle of the treated fabric could attain 146.2°. FLDH do not influence whiteness of the treated fabric but will make it slightly stiff at high doses. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci., 2013     

Hydrolyzable‐emulsifier‐containing polymer latices as dispersants and binders for waterborne carbon black paint

Poly(styrene‐co‐butyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) latices were prepared by emulsion polymerization with alkali‐hydrolyzable and nonhydrolyzable cationic emulsifiers and were used as a dispersant and binder for waterborne carbon black (CB) paint. CB was dispersed in the latex solutions and then coated on filter paper pretreated with dilute aqueous Na₂CO₃ under mild conditions. The styrene (St)‐rich rigid copolymer latices easily dispersed the CB but fixed a little amount of the pigment on the paper surface. In contrast, the methacrylate‐ and acrylate‐rich soft latices tended to increase the adhesibility on it. We also demonstrated that the hydrolyzable‐emulsifier‐containing latices always had a higher adhesibility than the nonhydrolyzable‐emulsifier‐containing ones. Thus, the hydrolyzable‐emulsifier‐containing latices with an appropriate St content had the highest paintability, rapid adhesion, quick drying, reduced fading, superior fastness, and so on. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3869–3873, 2013