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Latex interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyacrylates and polystyrene. II. Effect of methacrylic acid concentration in the seed
Author(s) -
Nagarajan P.,
Mital C. K.,
Trivedi M. K.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19960110)59:2<197::aid-app2>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - methacrylic acid , styrene , monomer , polymer chemistry , polymer , polystyrene , materials science , swelling , shore durometer , acrylate , methacrylate , poly(methacrylic acid) , polymerization , ethyl acrylate , interpenetrating polymer network , chemical engineering , copolymer , composite material , engineering
Latex interpenetrating polymer networks (LIPNs) were prepared by swelling the polyacrylate seed (comprised of methyl methacrylate and n ‐butyl acrylate in the ratio of 45:55 by weight), having different amounts of methacrylic acid (MAA) ranging from 0 to 6 wt %, with styrene monomer, whose polymer constituted the other network, to study the effect of MAA content in the seed on the final latex properties. The swelling and polymerization of styrene monomer and the crosslinker were done at two different pH values (viz., 3.3 and 8.5) for all the LIPNs. The LIPNs with the minimum MAA amount of 1.2 in the seed yielded translucent film at low pH and transparent film at high pH, upon drying at ambient temperatures. The LIPNs showed multiphase morphology with seeds having minima of 0.2 and 0.5% MAA when processed at high and low pH, respectively. Tensile strength and hardness (Shore‐D) also increased from 4 to 13.2 MPa and 35 to 52, respectively, with an increase in the acid concentration from 0 to 6% as a result of increased mixing of the two polymers. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.