Synthesis and Characterisation of New Structured Latices for Improved Adhesion to Polyester Films

✍ Scribed by Charmeau, Jean-Yves; Richard, Joel; Lorentz, Gilles; Vovelle, Louis; Holl, Yves

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 284 KB
• Volume: 42
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0959-8103
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0126(199702)42:2<203::aid-pi702>3.0.co;2-p

✦ Synopsis

The paper describes the synthesis, in an emulsion polymerisation process, of an acrylic copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethyl acrylate), in the presence of a hydrophilic polyester. This polyester has a structure close to that of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) but is made hydrophilic by sulphonate-bearing moieties. It was specially designed to promote the adhesion of latex Ðlms to PET. In water, it forms aggregates with a mean diameter of 20 nm. These aggregates act as seed particles and the synthesis proceeds like an inverted coreÈshell emulsion polymerisation. The hydrophilic polyester forms the main component of the shell of the Ðnal latex particles. The acrylic copolymer is located mainly in the core. Despite the strong incompatibility between the two polymers, they mix to a certain extent, as clearly shown by the analysis of the mechanical properties of the latex Ðlms. This unexpected mixing is due to the synthesis procedure. The acrylic monomers are added slowly and polymerise as soon as they reach the seed particles, before having time to completely phaseseparate from the polyester. Knowledge of the particle and latex Ðlm structure is used to interpret adhesive properties of the latex Ðlms.