Studies on polymer latex films: I. A study of latex film morphology

Polymer films have been formed from poly (butyl methacrylate) latices prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerisation. The latices having also been cleaned by microfiltration constitute model colloid particles and hence form ‘model’ films. A novel freeze fracture replication and transmission electron microscopy technique was employed to study film morphology. It demonstrated the presence of interparticle boundaries between latex particles deformed into dodecahedra and the particle packing order without the need for a staining technique. The time and temperature of film formation and storage was shown to affect the degree of particle coalescence. Solvent cast films were also studied for comparison purposes.