Ion exchange in carboxylated latices — AUC studies using sedimentation and density gradient techniques

Crosslinked highly carboxylated acrylic latices with narrow particle size distributions were prepared by emulsion polymerization and characterized carefully by different AUC techniques (particle size distributions and particle density measurements). The acid form of those latices was neutralized with metal oxides like MgO, CaO, ZnO, or PbO in order to obtain the corresponding salt form of the latices which again were characterized carefully. The kinetics of the ion exchange between latex particles were studied by mixing, for example, the acid and the salt form of the latices monitoring the density distribution of the latex particles by density gradient ultracentrifugation. With all latices the hydrogen-metal ion exchange tends to be a complete one provided this process is given a sufficiently long exchange time. Theoretical models are provided which yield a qualitative explanation of the experimental data.