Synthesis and characterisation of fluorine-silicon acrylate latex emulsified by novel green surfactants

Abstract

Purpose Motivated by the globally increasing concern over environmental protection, the interest of a large part of the scientific community focuses on the development of green surfactants aiming to replace traditional toxic surfactants-based alternatives. The purpose of this paper is to prepare acrylate copolymer latex modified with fluorine and silicone monomer, which is emulsified with the green surfactants of sodium rosinate and alkyl polyglycoside (APG). Design/methodology/approach A series of acrylic copolymer latexes containing fluorine–silicon have been prepared by semi-continuous seed emulsion polymerisation of mixed monomers of methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), hexafluorobutylmethacrylate (HFMA) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and emulsified by green mixed surfactants of sodium rosinate and APG. Findings The optimum recipe of preparing the emulsion is as follows: the amount of emulsifiers is 6 per cent and the mass ratio of sodium rosinate to APG is 1:3. The amount of initiator is 0.4 per cent, and the amounts of the silicon monomer and fluorine monomer are 5 and 7 per cent, respectively. In comparison with the acrylate latex prepared without fluorine monomer and silicon monomer, the thermal stability and the water resistance of the film of the resultant latex clearly improved. Practical implications The acrylic copolymer latexes containing fluorine–silicon emulsified with green surfactants can be used in the coatings, adhesives, finishing agents and so on. Originality/value The acrylic copolymer latexes containing fluorine–silicon have been prepared by semi-continuous seed emulsion polymerisation. The green mixed surfactants of sodium rosinate and APG have been used as the emulsifiers to replace traditional toxic surfactants-based alternatives.