High Solids Content, Soap-Free, Film-Forming Latexes Stabilized by Laponite Clay Platelets

Elodie Bourgeat-Lami (1) , Thiago Rodrigues Guimaraes (2) , Ana Maria Cenacchi Pereira (1, 2) , Gizelda Maria Alves (2) , Jose Carlos Moreira (2) , Jean-Luc Puteaux (3) , Amilton Martin dos Santos (2)

1 C2P2 - Laboratoire de Chimie, Catalyse, Polymères et Procédés, R 5265
2 USP - Universidade de São Paulo = University of São Paulo
3 CERMAV - Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales

High solids content film-forming poly[styrene-co-(n-butyl acrylate)] [poly(Sty-co-BuA)] latexes armored with Laponite clay platelets have been synthesized by soap-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene and n-butyl acrylate. The polymerizations were performed in batch in the presence of Laponite and a methyl ether acrylateterminated poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomer in order to promote polymer/clay association. The overall polymerization kinetics showed a pronounced effect of clay on nucleation and stabilization of the latex particles. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy observation confirmed the armored morphology and indicated that the majority of Laponite platelets were located at the particle surface. The resulting nanostructured films displayed enhanced mechanical properties.

Mots clés: nanocomposites; mechanical properties; clay; emulsion polymerization; films

Domaines: Polymères

Elodie Bourgeat-Lami, Thiago Rodrigues Guimaraes, Ana Maria Cenacchi Pereira, Gizelda Maria Alves, Jose Carlos Moreira, et al.. High Solids Content, Soap-Free, Film-Forming Latexes Stabilized by Laponite Clay Platelets. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2010, 31 (21), pp.1874-1880. ⟨10.1002/marc.201000305⟩. ⟨hal-00723757⟩