Properties of polystyrene/poly(butyl acrylate) core/shell polymers modified withN-methylol acrylamide

Abstract

Polystyrene/poly(butyl acrylate) PS/PBA polymer dispersions with core/shell particles functionalized by N-methylol acrylamide (N-MA) were prepared through two-step emulsion polymerization. The influence of N-MA situated in shell and/or in core/shell of particles on the crosslinking reaction was studied to relate its mechanical properties and organic solvent resistance of films cast from basic and modified PS/PBA latexes. The changes in the phase arrangement of functionalized and unfunctionalized films after treatment with solvent and annealing were monitored. It was found that at the presence of N-MA the crosslinking reaction occured already during the polymerization. Films from functionalized dispersions exhibit improved tensile strength and higher resistance against organic solvent.