Properties and characterization of acrylic latex prepared with novel emulsifiers

Abstract

The polyacrylate latex has been successfully prepared by semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerization with methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), and acrylic acid (AA), which were initiated with potassium persulfate and emulsified with the novel green mixed surfactants of alkyl polyglycoside (APG1214) and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate (MES). The particle size of the latex was measured by Zetatrac dynamic light scattering detector. The structure of the latex was tested by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The film of latex was tested by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Factors, which had an influence on the properties of the latex, were studied in detail. The optimum conditions for preparing the polyacrylate latex were as follows: the amount of emulsifiers was 7.0%, the mass ratio of APG1214 to MES was 3:1, the amount of the initiator was 0.7%, the mass ratio of MMA to BA was 1:1, and the amount of AA was 2.0%. In this case, the conversion of the mixed monomers was high and the mechanical and ionic stability of the latex was good.