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