The Influence of Size and Surface Hydrophobicity of Latex Polymer Particles on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Films

Abstract

The physicomechanical and physicochemical properties of film-forming styrene-alkyl(meth)acrylic latex copolymers were studied depending on the size of the latex particles and the hydrophobicity of their surface, which are a consequence of the features of emulsion polymerization. Using the method of dynamic mechanical relaxation spectroscopy, an increase in the intensity of relaxation mobility of latex polymer macrochains with a decrease in particle size and the hydrophobicity of their surface was established. This is accompanied by a decrease in the glass transition temperature of the polymer, corresponding to the maximum intensity of α-relaxation. A comparison of the properties of polymer films before and after their modification was carried out. water-soluble phthalocyaninate. When the polymer was modified, an increase was found in glass transition temperatures and the maximum intensity of α-relaxation as a result of disruptions in relaxation of the homogeneity of the polymer material when localizing the modifier on the surface of latex particles in the interparticle regions of the films. The localization of phthalocyaninate on the polymer surface is confirmed by fluorescence data spectroscopy, indicating the appearance of fluorescence in the modified polymer and its absence in the modifier itself.