Preparation of temperature-sensitive polymer particles having different lower critical solution temperatures

Preparation of temperature-sensitive core-shell composite polymer particles was carried out by seeded emulsion copolymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate with submicron-sized polystyrene seed particles as core. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the core-shell composite was about 35°C, while the LCST could be controlled toward higher or lower temperatures by copolymerizing the shell layer with hydrophilic/hydrophobic vinyl comonomer.     

Synthesis, modification and characterization of core-shell fluoroacrylate copolymer latexes

Core-shell fluoroacrylate copolymer latex, typically used for the protection of ancient stone monument, was synthesized in this paper by semi-continuous seed emulsion polymerization with butyl acrylate (BA) served as the core, methyl methacrylate (MMA), BA and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFHMA, C₁₁H₈O₂F₁₂) served as the shell. At the same time, the above core-shell fluoroacrylate latex was modified by hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS, Si(OC₂H₅)₄) in the presence of silane coupling agent dodecyltrimethoxysilane (DTMS, C₁₂H₂₅Si(OCH₃)₃). The chemical component of the final latex was analyzed by FT-IR. Morphology structure and the particle size of core-shell latex were determined by TEM. The effect of DFHMA and TEOS content on the latex and film properties was characterized by SEM-EDX, AFM, TEM, DSC and UV-vis. The analysis results indicated that the copolymer latex particle presented uniform sphere core-shell structure with 40-50 nm in diameter. About 30 wt% DFHMA gave favorable characteristics both in latex and in film properties. Compared with core-shell fluoroacrylate latex, the modified fluoroacrylate copolymer displayed, when TEOS was controlled in 2.2-3.8 wt%, sound performances in hydrophobic, mechanics, thermodynamics and resistance to ultraviolet.     

Synthesis of polyacrylate core-shell structure latex by radiation techniques

A series of poly(butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate)/poly (ethyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) was synthesized in latex form by emulsion polymerization. The multiphase morphology of the latex particles was studied after two-stage polymerization by using transimission electron microscope (TEM), the result indicated that the morphology of the particles comprises gradient shell structure, cellular structure and core-shell structure. The change of morphology might stem from emulsion polymerization by radiation initiation or chemical initiation and the weight composition of poly(EA-co-MMA) seed latex which formed the core. By radiation techniques, we successfully synthesized poly( BA-co-MMA)/poly(EA-co-AA) latex of core-shell structure having (42-8)/(46-4) weight compositions. The PA core-shell structure latex applied to textile as a water proofing coating showed higher water-pressure and easier handling than that with PA homogeneous phase structure latex.     

DESIGN AND CONTROL OF SOAP-FREE HYDROPHILIC-HYDROPHOBIC CORE-SHELL LATEX PARTICLES WITH HIGH CARBOXYL CONTENT IN THE CORE OF THE PARTICLES

Soap-free hydrophilic-hydrophobic core-shell latex particles with high carboxyl content in the core of the particles were synthesized via the seeded emulsion polymerization using methyl methacrylate(MMA),butyl acrylate(BA), methacrylic acid(MAA),styrene(St)and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate(EGDMA)as monomers,and the influences of MMA content used in the core preparation on polymerization,particle size and morphology were investigated by transmission electron microscopy,dynamic light scattering and conductometric titration.The results showed that the seeded emulsion polymerization could be carried out smoothly using "starved monomer feeding process" when MAA content in the core preparation was equal to or less than 24 wt%,and the encapsulating efficiency of the hydrophilic P(MMA-BA-MAAEGDMA) core with the hydrophobic PSt shell decreased with the increase in MAA content.When an interlayer of P(MMAMAA -St)with moderate polarity was inserted between the P(MMA-BA-MAA-EGDMA)core and the PSt shell,well designed soap-free hydrophilic-hydrophobic core-shell latex particles with 24 wt%MAA content in the core preparation were obtained.     

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell polyacrylate particles containing hindered amine light stabilizers

A polymerizable hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-yl acrylate (PMPA) was synthesized through transesterification of 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-ol (PMP) with methyl acrylate (MA). Core-shell latex particles containing HALS moieties in the shell phase were prepared by two-stage seeded emulsion polymerization from n-butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and PMPA. The Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) analysis showed that PMPA monomer was successfully prepared and was effectively involved in the polyacrylate particles. The surface composition was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the results indicated that HALS-containing groups could be distributed on the surfaces of the particles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the particles obtained presented a core-shell structure with a particle size around 100 nm. Two glass transition temperatures (T_g), assigned to the core phase and the shell phase of the particles, respectively, were observed for both HALS-containing and HALS-free particles, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the T_g value for the shell phase of HALS-containing particles was 13 °C lower than that of HALS-free particles, indicating the presence of random copolymer between MMA monomer and PMPA comonomer in the shell phase. The thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential thermal gravimetric (DTG) results showed that HALS-containing particles provided an improvement in thermal stability in comparison to HALS-free particles.     

Morphological evolution of multistage polymer particles in the alkali post-treatment

Multistage carboxyl-containing polymer latex particles were synthesized by multistep emulsion copolymerization using methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), methacrylic acid (MAA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and styrene (St) as raw materials, and the latex particles with diverse morphologies including multihollow, hollow and “bowl-like” were obtained by post-treating the multistage latex particles under alkali condition. The morphological evolution of the particles in the alkali post-treatment process was characterized with electron microscopy, and effects of alkali treatment conditions including treatment temperature, time as well as initial pH on particle morphology were investigated. Results indicated that the alkali treatment temperature and initial pH were the key parameters to control the morphology of the treated particles. When the alkali treatment temperature was below 60 °C or the initial pH was lower than 8.5, the particle morphology was almost unchanged no matter how long the treatment time was prolonged. The multihollow and hollow particles could be formed as alkali treatment temperature exceeded 60 °C in the range of initial pH from 8.8 to 9.5. While the latex particles with “bowl-like” morphology were observed when the multistage latex was alkali treated at 90 °C for 3 h with initial pH 9.8. Furthermore, extending alkali treatment time was beneficial to get the swelling equilibrium of the latex particles.     

Emulsifier-free latex of fluorinated acrylate copolymer

Emulsifier-free latices of fluorinated acrylate copolymers were prepared by semicontinuous polymerization method, with perfluoroalkylethyl methacrylate (Zonyl TM) as a fluoromonomer. Ultrasonic at 40 kHz was adopted to help monomers disperse well in water. The relationships of polymerization conditions between the final conversion and polymerization stability were discussed in detail and the optimal polymerization condition was given. A fluorinated acrylate copolymer was finally obtained and its T_g was 54 °C. The average particle size of the latex was about 601 nm and the particle size distribution of the latex was narrow. The latex film exhibited a low surface free energy and good surface property. By using 6% Zonyl TM, the water contact angle of the film-air interface increased significantly and reached to 110.2°. Compared with the latex film of fluorine-free polyacrylate prepared under the similar polymerization condition, the fluorinated latex film had a better water-resistance and thermal stability.     

单分散聚丙烯酸丁酯-二氧化硅核壳粒子的制备

近年来,有机-无机核壳材料因其具有可调的光、电、磁等特性而备受关注．无机物外壳可以增强粒子的热力学稳定性、机械强度和抗拉性能．高分子乳胶粒内核具有弹性,且易成膜,外部包覆无机物的乳胶粒可结合两者特性并产生协同效应．     

Preparation and surface properties of latexes with fluorine enriched in the shell by silicon monomer crosslinking

A series of core-shell acrylic copolymer latexes containing fluorine enriched in the shell have been prepared by emulsion polymerization of a variety of hydrocarbon monomers with (perfluoroalkyl)methyl methacrylate and vinyltriethoxysilicone. In the presence of a reactive anionic and a long chain anionic-nonionic emulsifier, the core-shell latexes were prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). From AFM and contact angle measurements, it was observed that the resulting fluorine and silicon-containing acrylic copolymers with surface energy as low as 15.5 mN/m formed a dense and gradient film containing a surface layer with high a fluorine content, and that the fluorinated particles can be fixed on the surface due to the crosslinking reaction of multi-functional silicon monomer even though the fluorinated carbon number was not enough to crystallize.     

氯丁胶乳-聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯复合乳胶粒结构形态

以氯丁胶乳（Pa）为种子乳液,甲基丙烯酸甲酯（Pb）为第二单体,采用种子乳液聚合法,制备了氯丁胶乳-聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯复合乳胶粒。 热力学分析表明,当Pb的体积分数Φb＜0.69时,可同时形成Pa-Pb型正核-壳和（Pa＋Pb）分离型乳胶粒,当Φb＞0.69时,形成Pb-Pa型翻转型核壳结构乳胶粒,并伴有Pa-Pb型正核-壳结构乳胶粒的形成。 动力学分析表明,引发剂类型、第二单体的加入方式、种子乳胶粒的交联、单体/聚合物质量比是影响乳胶粒形态的主要因素。 采用水溶性引发剂过二硫酸钾（KPS）,以饥饿态方式加入单体,氯丁胶乳 聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PCR-PMMA)复合乳胶粒呈现正核-壳结构,以充溢态方式加入单体则不能形成明显的核-壳结构;而以油溶性偶氮二异丁腈（AIBN）为引发剂时,单体无论以充溢态方式加入还是饥饿态加入均倾向于形成翻转核-壳型粒子。 在种子乳胶粒中加入一定量交联剂二缩三乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯,有利于形成明显的正核壳结构。 以饥饿态进料,KPS为引发剂时,随着单体用量增加,壳层变厚,仍呈正核-壳结构,与热力学分析结果相吻合;以AIBN为引发剂时,随着单体用量增加,PCR-PMMA复合乳胶粒逐渐由翻转核壳型结构变为互穿结构。     

Comparative study between core-shell and interpenetrating network structure polyurethane/polyacrylate composite emulsions

Anionic aqueous polyurethane dispersion was prepared by using carboxyl acid group to make the polyurethane dispersible, and then nanograde core-shell and crosslinked IPN structure polyurethane/polyacrylate composite latex (PUA) were synthesized by soap-free emulsion polymerization method with polyurethane dispersion as seed. FTIR, DSC, dynamic light scattering, TEM, ESCA, TGA, electronic tensile machine were employed to investigate the structures and properties of the composite latex and their polymers. Meanwhile the core-shell composite PUA emulsion and the crosslinked IPN composite PUA emulsion were compared. The results showed that the particle morphology of PUA composite emulsion is inverted core-shell structure with polyacrylate as the core and with polyurethane as the shell. The morphology of the crosslinked PUA emulsion was multi-core structure. The surface in core-shell PUA contains rich PU phase. The phase structure of the crosslinked PUA is more uniform. Three transition temperatures are observed for the core-shell composite PUA, two transitions are observed for the film from the crosslinked PUA. The TGA curves of core-shell PUA and crosslinked PUA exhibit two stages, the first stage corresponds to the thermal decomposition of hard segments in seed polyurethane; the second stage corresponds to the decomposition of soft segments in PUA and decomposition of polyacrylate. With the increase of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) amounts in PUA composite emulsions, the tensile strength of the PUA films as well as the average diameter of the PUA composite emulsion particles increase, the elongation at break of the PUA films decreases.     

硅丙型核壳结构乳胶粒子的制备及成膜过程

采用分步乳液聚合方法, 分别在不同步骤中将乙烯基硅氧烷单体作为共聚单体引入聚丙烯酸酯类乳液共聚合体系中, 制备出具有窄分布多层核壳结构形态的硅丙型乳胶粒子. 利用透射电子显微镜(TEM)表征, 乳胶粒子具有硅丙型核壳结构; 动态激光散射(DLS)分析得到的乳胶粒子的直径与TEM数据相符; 同时由多频调制差示扫描量热(TOPEM-DSC)技术分析得到的乳胶粒子的3个玻璃化转变温度与实验设计相符, 证实乳液粒子的核壳结构; 利用Horus成膜仪对乳胶粒子成膜过程进行全程监控. 利用多种助剂制得水性木器涂料, 其漆膜的硬度、耐丙酮性、耐水性、耐醇性及耐压痕等性能优异.     

Morphology control of soap-free seeded P(St-EA-AA) latex particles

Soap-free poly(styrene-ethyl acrylate-acrylic acid) latex particles with narrow size distribution and with surface carboxyl groups were synthesized by semicontinuous emulsion polymerization, and the particles with homogeneous multihollow structure were obtained after alkali posttreatment. Effects of treatment conditions and crosslinking agents on particle morphology were investigated. Results showed that the multihollow structure can be formed inside the uncrosslinked particles only when the treatment temperature exceeded 50 °C, the pH was higher than 10.0, the amount of 2-butanone was more than 3.0 ml and the treatment time was longer than 30 min. Furthermore, the volume expansion of the particles increased with the temperature increased to 90 °C, the pH to 12.5 or the amount of 2-butanone to 7.0 ml, and this value increased first and then decreased with the treatment time prolonged. Fine pores can be generated in the shell of particles crosslinked by 0.2 g of ethyl glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA), while no hollow structure formed inside particles when 0.4 g of EGDMA or 0.2 g of divinyl benzene was used.     

Responsive core-shell latex particles as colloidosome microcapsule membranes

Responsive core-shell latex particles are used to prepare colloidosome microcapsules using thermal annealing and internal cross linking of the shell, allowing the production of the microcapsules at high concentrations. The core-shell particles are composed of a polystyrene core and a shell of poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]-b-poly[methyl methacrylate] (PDMA-b-PMMA) chains adsorbed onto the core surface, providing steric stabilization. The PDMA component of the adsorbed polymer shell confers thermally responsive and pH-responsive characteristics to the latex particle, and it also provides glass transitions at temperatures lower than those of the core and reactive amine groups. These features facilitate the formation of stable Pickering emulsion droplets and the immobilization of the latex particle monolayer on these droplets to form colloidosome microcapsules. The immobilization is achieved through thermal annealing or cross linking of the shell under mild conditions feasible for large-scale economic production. We demonstrate here that it is possible to anneal the particle monolayer on the emulsion drop surface at 75-86 °C by using the lower glass-transition temperature of the shell compared to that of the polystyrene cores (～108 °C). The colloidosome microcapsules that are formed have a rigid membrane basically composed of a densely packed monolayer of particles. Chemical cross linking has also been successfully achieved by confining a cross linker within the disperse droplet. This approach leads to the formation of single-layered stimulus-responsive soft colloidosome membranes and provides the advantage of working at very high emulsion concentrations because interdroplet cross linking is thus avoided. The porosity and mechanical strength of the microcapsules are also discussed here in terms of the observed structure of the latex particle monolayers forming the capsule membrane.     

Synthesis and properties of soap-free poly(methyl methacrylate-ethyl acrylate-methacrylic acid) latex particles prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization

In order to obtain functional polymer latex particles with clean surface and with surface carboxyl groups, P(MMA-EA) seed particles with the diameter of 335 nm were first synthesized via soap-free batch emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethyl acrylate (EA), and then the seeded emulsion copolymerization of MMA, EA and MAA (methacrylic acid) onto the seed particles were performed in the absence of emulsifier. Influences of ingredients and conditions on polymerization, latex particle size (D_p) and its distribution were investigated. Results showed that most of the monomers polymerized onto the seed latex particles in the second step of polymerization by using drop-wise addition method, and D_p increased from 483 nm to 829 nm with the mass ratio of core/shell monomers [C]/[S] decreased from 1:2 to 1:15. It was found that D_p decreased with the increase of MAA and initiator amounts, and the size of the latex particles became uniform with the decrease of MAA amount and with the increase of [C]/[S] value.     

Synthesis of polytetrafluoroethylene/polyacrylate core-shell nanoparticles via emulsifier-free seeded emulsion polymerization

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/polyacrylate core-shell nanoparticles were produced via the emulsifier-free seeded emulsion polymerization of acrylate monomers with PTFE latex as seed. The monomer conversions under different synthesis parameters were monitored by a gravimetric method. The polymerization conditions for preparing PTFE/polyacrylate core-shell nanoparticles were surveyed and optimized. The chemical component of the PTFE/polyacrylate particles was confirmed by comparing the Fourier-transform infrared spectra of PTFE and PTFE/polyacrylate particles. The core-shell structure of the resulting PTFE/polyacrylate nanocomposite particles was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The water contact angles of the films prepared from PTFE/polyacrylate nanocomposite particles showed that the films were hydrophilic, which confirmed that polyacrylate covered the surface of the PTFE particles. This kind of PTFE/polyacrylate core-shell nanoparticles might advance the compatibility of PTFE with other materials due to the covering of the polyacrylate shell on the surface of PTFE, which would make them promising in various fields.     

EFFECT OF THE PHASE STRUCTURE EVOLUTION ON THE PROPERTIES OF FILMS FORMED FROM PBA/P(St-co-MMA) COMPOSITE LATEX

A group of heterogeneous latexes poly(butyl acrylate)/poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate)(PBA/P(St-co-MMA)) were prepared by a semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization process under monomer starved conditions.The glass transition temperature(T_g)and the mechanical properties of the film formed from the composite latex changed with the evolution of the particle morphology.A photon transmission method was used to monitor the phase structure evolution of films which were prepared from core-shell PBA/...     

Brownian Dynamics Simulation of Film Formation of Mixed Polymer Latex in the Water Evaporation Stage

Brownian dynamics simulations of the filming process of a mixed polymer latex in the water evaporation stage were performed in order to explore the effect of surface potential on latex particle packing and distribution at a temperature far below the glass transitions of polymers in bulk. Polymer latex particles are modeled as spheres that interact via DLVO potential with various surface charge densities for emulsifier-free emulsion polymerized particles and dispersion polymerized particles. It is found that the distribution of modeled poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene latex particles in the finally formed film exhibits a noticeable dependence of surface potentials of latex particles. When the difference of the surface potentials between binary mixed latex particles is small, the particles distribute randomly. In contrast, when the difference of the surface potentials between binary mixed latex particles is large, heterocoagulation occurs and the polymer latex in which the repulsive electrostatic potential is weak will form clusters in the film. The results are in agreement with laser confocal fluorescence microscopy observations of fluorescent dye labeled poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene mixed latex films. The correlation between latex particles increases with increasing repulsive electrostatic potential, and the spatial order can be obtained at the end of the water evaporation stage. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Glass transition and film formation of VeoVa/vinyl acetate latices; role of water and co-solvents

The physical forces causing deformation of latex particles during the film formation process have been witley studied. However, the forces resisting particle deformation are still poorly characterized. It is clear that the extent of particle deformation is dependent on the viscoelastic nature of the polymer. In an emulsion, the latex particles will normally contain water, surfactants and “free” monomers which lead to plasticization of the polymer. Although this effect has been recognized, so far it has been studied only on films that had been dried and then partially or completely swollen by water. In this work, plasticization of the emulsion polymers by water and co-solvent has been quantified via differential scanning calorimetry investigation directly on the aqueous latex dispersions. More specifically, the plasticizing effect of water on VeoVa/vinyl acetate copolymer latices and its influence on minimum film-forming temperature (MFFT) has been studied. A linear correlation has been found between T_g and MFFT for the wet latices. This new direct method should help to improve our understanding of the forces resisting latex film formation. Additionally, the homogeneous distribution of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers (VeoVa and vinyl acetate respectively) in the latex particles was verified via a ¹³C-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) study performed directly on the latices. This study confirmed that no significant core/shell type of morphology had influenced latex film formation.     

Synthesis and characterization of epoxy-functional polystyrene particles

Colloidal polystyrene particles with surface epoxy groups have been synthesized through surfactant-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene with glycidyl methacrylate; and through copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and methyl methacrylate as shells around existing polystyrene seed particles. We developed two titration methods to quantify the number of epoxy groups that survived the polymerization processes. The styrene-GMA copolymer particles were judged to be unsatisfactory as model colloidal materials due to their size polydispersity and unknown internal distribution of epoxy groups. The core-shell particles had high epoxy surface densities with at least 60% of the initial epoxy groups surviving the synthesis process. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the thickness of the epoxy-rich shell is less than expected based on the volume of monomers added, suggesting that some of the monomer forms water-soluble oligomers. Photon correlation spectroscopy measurements imply that the shell is swollen with water and consists of polymer configurations which extend out into solution. The morphological details vary consistently with the GMA content, and hence the hydrophilicity, of the shell polymer. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.