NMR linewidth study of a latex interpenetrating network

Polymer structure developed in latex particles has been investigated by measuring the temperature dependence of the carbon magnetic resonance (CMR) peak linewidths. Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) were formed by a continuous-addition emulsion polymerization process, in which a crosslinked seed particle was the site for formation of a linear second-stage polymer. Morphology was controlled by the level of crosslinking in the seed stage. The two polymers of the composite particle differ in their glass-transition temperatures by 100°C. By heating the particles to 50°C above the glass-transition temperature of the softer polymer, which formed the continuous network phase of this composite, it was possible to observe its CMR spectrum independently of the other polymer. The temperature dependence of the linewidth varied with the structure of the network. This was characterized by limiting linewidth behavior at both low and high temperature, which systematically varied as a function of the degree of mixing the two phases. Differential scanning calorimetry and electron microscopy corroborated the morphology change observed with the linewidth data. The influence of a diluent, present during formation of the network stage, was also examined with this CMR approach.