Latex Solution Properties

In solution the latex spheres will experience van der Waals forces of attraction, which at a separation r will be proportional to r. For coagulation to not occur, these forces must be balanced by the repulsive electrostatic force arising from either the ionic functional groups on the latex, or adsorbed ionic surfactant. Hence, a latex particle in an electrol3Ae will support a tightly bound layer of one ion balanced by a diffuse layer of an oppositely charged ion. This diffuse layer is equivalent to the diffuse layer at an electrode-solution interface and so can be described by Gouy-Chapman theory [46]. Therefore, the width of the diffuse layer will be equal to the Debye 

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Butadiene copolymers are mainly prepared to yield mbbers (see Styrene-butadiene rubber). Many commercially significant latex paints are based on styrene—butadiene copolymers (see Coatings Paint). In latex paint the weight ratio S B is usually 60 40 with high conversion. Most of the block copolymers prepared by anionic catalysts, eg, butyUithium, are also elastomers. However, some of these block copolymers are thermoplastic mbbers, which behave like cross-linked mbbers at room temperature but show regular thermoplastic flow at elevated temperatures (45,46). Diblock (styrene—butadiene (SB)) and triblock (styrene—butadiene—styrene (SBS)) copolymers are commercially available. Typically, they are blended with PS to achieve a desirable property, eg, improved clarity/flexibiHty (see Polymerblends) (46). These block copolymers represent a class of new and interesting polymeric materials (47,48). Of particular interest are their morphologies (49—52), solution properties (53,54), and mechanical behavior (55,56). 

These results indicate that it should be possible to make rough predictions of competitive adsorption of different surfactants on latex surfaces without any detailed knowledge about the properties of the surface. The major difference in adsorption strength should be due to differences in the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of the surfactants, i.e. to differences in their solution properties. 

Copolymers 59 [181] and terpolymers 60 [182] were synthesized by micellar copolymerization and characterized with respect to their molecular and solution properties. The subject of further investigations was the interaction with low molecular weight surfactants [181,183]. Another interesting use was made of hydrophobized sulfopropylammonio monomers as surface-active monomers (or surfmers ) [184]. Their use in emulsifler-free emulsion polymerizations [185] reduced the water uptake and improved the mechanical stability of the resulting filmed latexes. 

ATER-SOLUBLE POLYMERS (WSPs) are an important class of industrial polymers. They have many applications in solution and in the solid state. In solution, they are widely used as thickeners to control the rheology of various water-based formulations, such as latex paints, drilling muds, foods, cosmetics, and building materials. Chemically modified natural polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose, and guar are a large class of commercial water-soluble polymers. The appropriate chemical modification of these polysaccharides can lead to the modified solution properties needed for specific applications. 

This chapter is concerned with just one of this class of thickeners, namely a hydrophobically modified (hydroxyethyl)cellulose (HMHEC), Hercules WSP D-47. Gelman and Barth (i) reported on the viscosity of such HMHECs. This sample contained up to four hexadecyl chains grafted to the cellulose backbone. The preparative route was that described by Landoll (2). The dilute solution properties were characterized by capillary viscom-etry, whereas the more concentrated solutions were characterized by continuous-shear viscometry, forced oscillation measurements, and shear-wave propagation. In addition, the adsorption onto polymer latex particles was investigated. 

Hydrophobically modified, ethoxylated urethanes (HEURs) are the thickeners of choice in exterior coatings and in corrosion-resistant, high-gloss industrial latex finishes. This chapter presents an overview of our research efforts and discusses approaches to the synthesis of HEUR polymers with different molecular architectures, geometrical influences on solution properties, and viable mechanisms by which this class of associative thickener effects desirable coatings rheology and applied film properties. 

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. 

The polymerisation and the properties of the latexes depended sensitively on the emulsifier and on the charge of the initiator. There was no visible correlation between the properties of the final latexes and the properties of the emulsifiers such as surface activity, solubilisation capacity, or the ability to stabilise the initial monomer emulsion. When a cationic (2,2 -dimethyl-2,2 -azo-N-benzylpropionamidine hydrochloride, VA-552 from Wako Chemicals) initiator was employed, all emulsifiers lead to stable monodisperse latexes, except for polysoaps with low hydrophobe content. The polymerisable, as well as the polymeric emulsifiers, yielded latex solutions with very high surface tensions, different from the use of the standard surfactant. In contrast, the use of an anionic initiator (potassium persulphate) can pose difficulties. The... 

Chapter 5 considers translation and rotation by solvent molecules in small-molecule liquids and polymer solutions. Correlations between solution properties are already more complex than might have been expected. At small rj, the diffusion coefficient and equivalent conductance of small-molecule probes in simple liquids scale as At larger rj, D and A are instead The boundary between small and large t] seen in the literature is uniformly near 5 cP. It is unclear why this particular value of r should not be system-specific. In contrast to smaU-molecule probes, mesoscopic probes such as polystyrene latex spheres in potentially highly viscous mixed solvents such as water glycerol retain D T/ri behavior over three or more orders of magnitude in rj. 

In this chapter we will start with a section on the raw materials used to produce HMI, the possible production methods of this product and its safety. The second section will give a short description of the solution properties of long-chain inulin and HMI. This is followed by a section on the interfacial properties of HMI at the air/liquid, liquid/liquid and solid/liquid interfaces. Particular attention will be given in describing the effectiveness of HMI as a stabilizer for various disperse systems, e.g. emulsions, nanoemulsions and latexes. The application of HMI in the formulation of emulsions, latex dispersions and nano-emulsions will be described in subsequent sections. 

In any application, cost is an important factor. The price of the polymer in the form of a powder, latex, solution, or bale is just part of the economic picture. The cost of other ingredients, equipment for fabrication, labor, power, and all the indirect costs, may well overshadow the polymer s share. A first-line tire containing the best rubber sells for 10-20 times the cost of the raw rubber it contains. Even in a much less complicated structure, such as plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) laboratory tubing, the raw material cost may be less than one-tenth of the selling price. Some properties that might be considered for a single application are as follows ... 

Poly(vinyl acetate) is used in latex water paints because of its weathering, quick-drying, recoat-ability, and self-priming properties. It is also used in hot-melt and solution adhesives. 

In converting ESBR latex to the dry mbber form, coagulating chemicals, such as sodium chloride and sulfuric acid, are used to break the latex emulsion. This solution eventually ends up as plant effluent. The polymer cmmb must also be washed with water to remove excess acid and salts, which can affect the cure properties and ash content of the polymer. The requirements for large amounts of good-quaUty fresh water and the handling of the resultant effluent are of utmost importance in the manufacture of ESBR and directly impact on the plant operating costs. 

Polymeric binder can be added to the network either as an aqueous latex dispersion or as a solution that should be dried prior to lamination in this process. In either case, the polymer should form a film and join adjacent fibers together and thus improve the stress transfer characteristics of the fibrous network. Provided that the proper film forming conditions are available, the property profile of the bonded network is determined to a significant degree by the properties of the polymeric binder at the temperature of use [20,22]. For example, if a softer type of product is desired, a binder with a relatively low glass transition temperature Tg) is often chosen. 

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