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Nanolatex technology 2: blending polymer nanoparticles with conventional latexes for synergistic property improvement

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Abstract

Results of our research on crosslinked latexes and polymer nanoparticles will be reported. Goals of this long-term program have been: comparing precoalescence and post-coalescence crosslinking; synthesizing polymer nanoparticle latexes (~ 20 to 25 nm) from a variety of acrylic monomers, including crosslinking and crosslinkable monomers; and blending nanoparticle latexes with compatible conventional (~ 120 to 130 nm) latexes and understanding their effects on film formation and on fundamental and empirical film properties. As we previously reported, blending conventional and nanolatexes in an 85/15 ratio (w/w of polymer solids) effects substantial changes of fundamental film properties. Best results included reducing minimum filming temperatures (MFT) while increasing Young’s moduli by factors of two to 17. Substantial improvements in empirical film properties such as gloss (up to 97 at 60°), hardness (increased by 2–5 pencils), block resistance, and adhesion to aluminum were also found. The previous report covered only a single blend ratio. Here we report studies of blends with ratios of conventional to nanoparticle latexes ranging from 92.5/7.5 to 30/70 (w/w). As before, the latexes and nanolatexes are BMA/BA copolymers with 0–4 wt.% of 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate (precoalescence crosslinker) and 0–5 wt.% of diacetone acrylamide (for post-coalescence crosslinking with adipic dihydrazide). Films cast from these blends are subjected to everyday empirical coatings tests and are characterized using instrumental tests including dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). Film formation and film morphology are studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results confirm that blending nanoparticles at ratios up to 50/50 (w/w of polymer solids) can substantially improve certain properties of conventional latex films. For many properties, the optimum ratio is around 85/15 conventional/nano; a 92.5/7.5 ratio also affords substantial improvements. As coatings, the blends have near-zero VOC.

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Acknowledgments

The College of Technology at Eastern Michigan University is thanked for financial support of Ravi Joshi during his doctoral studies. Important experimental assistance and consultation were provided by Rene Crombez, Paul Ziemer, Vijay Mannari, Ninad Dixit, and Malikkarjun C. Nagolu (Eastern Michigan University), Fred Willard and Marty Donbrosky (CASMi Laboratories), Weihua Ming (Georgia Southern University, Bruce Weiner (Brookhaven Instruments), and Madhavi Joshi.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coatings Research Institute, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, USA

    Frank N. Jones & Ravi G. Joshi

  2. Coatings Consulting Services, West Palm Beach, FL, USA

    Frank N. Jones

  3. College of Technology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, USA

    Ravi G. Joshi

  4. Polymer and Coatings Consultants, LLC, 5645A Emerald Ridge Parkway, Solon, OH, 44139, USA

    Theodore Provder

  5. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, USA

    Weidian Shen

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  1. Frank N. Jones
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  2. Ravi G. Joshi
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  3. Theodore Provder
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  4. Weidian Shen
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Correspondence to Theodore Provder.

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Jones, F.N., Joshi, R.G., Provder, T. et al. Nanolatex technology 2: blending polymer nanoparticles with conventional latexes for synergistic property improvement. J Coat Technol Res 18, 1165–1176 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-021-00474-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-021-00474-0

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