Preparation of starch-based styrene acrylate emulsion used as surface-treatment agent for decorative base paper

Abstract

Abstract A series of cationic starch (CS-8)-based styrene (St) acrylate latex preparations was prepared by the core-shell emulsion polymerization method. The latex was used in the surface-treatment of decorative base papers, for good printability and absorbability. CS-8, which has a low relative viscosity, was used as the emulsifier and dispersant. The influencing factors (dosage of CS-8 as well as the kinds and dosages of functional monomers) were studied and the optimal conditions were achieved. Then, the products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), laser particle size analysis and particle charge detection. The results showed that the excellent performance and good surface-treatment effects of the St acrylate emulsion (SAE) were achieved when the reaction conditions were as follows: 10 wt% starch, 2 wt% methacryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC) as the cationic monomer and 20 wt% ethyl acrylate (EA) as the acrylate monomer. Under the optimal conditions, the latex particle size was around 160 nm, the latex viscosity was 10 mPa·s and the latex charge density was 0.60 mmol·l-1. The printability of the decorative base paper was significantly improved and the absorbability of the paper sheet was maintained. The surface-treatment effect of the cationic starch-based SAE was superior to that of commercial polyurethane (PU).