Stratification of Butyl Acrylate/Polyurethane (BA/PUR) Latexes: ATR and Step-Scan Photoacoustic Studies

Abstract

Although the primary objective of these studies was to investigate stratification processes in multicomponent coatings, such as butyl acrylate/polyurethane (BA/PUR) (© 1999 by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.) latex, other objectives include investigation of stepscan photoacoustic (SS-PA) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy depth profiling capability for analysis of multicomponent systems. These studies show that a combination of step-scan photoacoustic and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FT-IR spectroscopy can be successfully utilized to elucidate stratification processes in BA/PUR latex as well as in other multicomponent systems. ATR FT-IR experiments revealed the absence of PUR moieties within the first 0.28 μm from the film/air (F-A) interface, a decrease of the BA component, and the appearance of PUR from 0.39 to 2.52 μm. Coalescence of BA/PUR latex at 149 °C affects the distribution of these components by driving PUR deeper into the bulk and BA closer to the surface. SS-PA FT-IR experiments allowed us to monitor stratification processes at greater depths, and in conjunction with phase rotation analysis, show that the BA component stratifies closer to the F-A interface, whereas PUR migrates towards the film/substrate (F-S) interface.