Use of polystyrene nanoparticles synthesized by differential microemulsion polymerization for property improvement of (vinyl acetate)‐ethylene copolymer

The nanolatex of polystyrene (PS) synthesized by differential microemulsion polymerization was blended with (vinyl acetate)‐ethylene (VAE) copolymer emulsion at VAE/PS dry weight ratios of 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, and 60/40. This technique provided a well dispersion of PS nanoparticles in the blends without any phase separation or flocculation. The blended emulsions were cast into thin sheet for further characterizations. It was found that the tensile strength, Young's modulus, dynamic mechanical properties, and thermal stability at 50% degradation of VAE were increased by the addition of an appropriate amount (20, 30, 40, and 40 wt%, respectively) of the PS nanoparticles, whereas the elongation at break deteriorated. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers