| Abstract: | In this study, the intermacromolecular complexation of two polymers with chemically complementary structures in the latex state and the interparticle interactions were probed. Two latexes—a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐butyl acrylate) system, named PA latex, and a PDMS/poly(methacrylic acid) system, named PB latex—were prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization and the complex latexes were obtained through complexation of the PA latex with the PB latex. The properties of the obtained complex latexes were investigated using surface tension and viscosity measurements. The surface structure and composition of coatings obtained from the latexes were analyzed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy. The results confirmed that there are interactions between the  (or  groups in PA and the  groups in PB. The interactions result in unique properties of the polymer latex and lead to a formation of a new structure of the coatings. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1405–1411, 2003 |
