Preparation and characterization of latices with hydrophobic core and hydrophilic shell

Anionic and non-ionic copolymer latices with a hydrophobic core and hydrophilic shell were prepared using emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. Styrene was used as the hydrophobic monomer; acrylic acid, acrylamide, and methacrylamide were employed as the hydrophilic monomers. The amount of chemically bound hydrophilic monomers in latex and unbound homopolymers in water were determined. The salt stability and redispersability of latices in water after spray-drying were also investigated.