Aspects of latex particle size control for improved water blush resistance

Latex films have a tendency to "blush" when exposed to water. The swelling of trapped hydrophilic material, which results in pockets with different refractive indices, is proposed as a possible model for blushing. A pressure-sensitive latex was developed on the basis of this model. The blush was improved by the choice of the surfactant and control of the particle diameter. The resulting latex has an unusual particle growth behavior during polymerization. The particle size distribution (PSD) was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The data are in a good agreement with our proposed growth model.