Vapor-induced film formation from low-Tg particles for different solvent compositions

The photon transmission method was used to study latex film formation from poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) particles induced by two different solvents. Films with the same latex content were prepared from PVAc particles and exposed to vapor of ethanol-water and acetone-water mixtures in various compositions. Transmitted photon intensities, Itr, from these films increased with increasing vapor exposure time. The increase in Itr is attributed to the increase in crossing density at the polymer-polymer junction. The Prager-Tirrell model was employed to obtain the back-and-forth frequency, nu, of the reptating polymer chain during film formation induced by solvent vapor. It was observed that the produced nu values increase as the solvent content is increased for both solvents. Abilities of both solvents to form films were interpreted with the solubility parameters of the solvents and the PVAc.