Electron microscopy, monomer film preparation

Latex with hydroxyl functionalised cores of a methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer, and carboxyl functionalised shells of a methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate/methacrylic acid copolymer was prepared by free radical polymerisation. The latex was crosslinked using a cycloaliphatic diepoxide added by three alternative modes with the monomers during synthesis dissolved in the solvent and added after latex preparation and emulsified separately, then added. The latex film properties, including viscoelasticity, hardness, tensile properties, and water adsorption were evaluated as functions of crosslinker addition mode. Latex morphology was studied by transmission electron and atomic force microscopy. Optimum results were achieved by introducing half the epoxide by two-step emulsion polymerisation, the balance being added to the latex either in solution or as an emulsion. 8 refs. 

Finally, Hapiot and coworkers used scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in feedback mode to investigate electronic and permeation properties of the polymeric films obtained from the mono-substituted ZnOEPfbpy)" monomer and ZnOEP monomer in the presence of free bipyridine [143]. The results showed that the polymer obtained from the EPOP process (namely from the commercial ZnOEP) was more permeable and had a lower conductivity than the one prepared using the mono-substituted ZnOEPfbpy)" monomer. These two observations were... 

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