Properties of polystyrene/poly(butyl acrylate) core/shell polymers modified with N‐methylol acrylamide

Polystyrene/poly(butyl acrylate) PS/PBA polymer dispersions with core/shell particles functionalized by N‐methylol acrylamide (N‐MA) were prepared through two‐step emulsion polymerization. The influence of N‐MA situated in shell and/or in core/shell of particles on the crosslinking reaction was studied to relate its mechanical properties and organic solvent resistance of films cast from basic and modified PS/PBA latexes. The changes in the phase arrangement of functionalized and unfunctionalized films after treatment with solvent and annealing were monitored. It was found that at the presence of N‐MA the crosslinking reaction occured already during the polymerization. Films from functionalized dispersions exhibit improved tensile strength and higher resistance against organic solvent.