Preparation and surface property of core‐shell particles containing fluorinated polymer in shell

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to modify the surface property of polyacrylate latex films using only small amounts of fluorinated acrylate and to optimise the results of such a modification. Design/methodology/approach The core‐shell particles with polyacrylate rich in core and containing fluorinated polymer rich in shell are prepared by a two‐stage semi‐continuous emulsion polymerisation under kinetically controlled conditions. The surface properties of the latex films produced from the core‐shell particles are investigated by optical goniometer measurement as well as contact angle method. Findings The latex films produced from the core‐shell particles exhibited surface energy of around 10 mN/m. The angle resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectrum measurements showed an increased average fluorine concentration in a surface layer thickness of a few nanometres, when compared to the fluorine concentration in the bulk. Research limitations/implications Methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate and N‐methylol acrylamide monomers are used as co‐monomer to form the shell with fluoroalkyl methacrylate. By preparing core‐shell emulsion with a fluoropolymer in the shell phase, the surface property of polyacrylate latex films is efficiently modified by using only small amounts of fluorinated acrylate monomer. Practical implications The method developed provided a simple and practical solution to improving the surface property of polyacrylate latex films. Originality/value The method for enhancing surface property of polyacrylate latex films is novel and can find numerous applications in surface coating.