Surfactant interactions in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl acetate–butyl acrylate) latexes

Abstract

Abstract Saturation adsorption and penetration adsorption of several anionic surfactants at model poly(vinyl acetate–;acrylate) latex/water interfaces are described. The effects of molecular weight and structure of anionic surfactants, latex composition, and the presence of adsorbed layers on latex particles on penetration type surfactant interactions leading to the formation of solubilized polymer–surfactant complex and latex thickening are considered. In the case of saturation‐type adsorption of nonionic surfactants, surfactant adsorption at a vinyl acrylic latex/water interface is correlated satisfactorily with the polarity of polymer surface, in agreement with earlier surfactant adsorption studies.