Preparation and characterization of cationic acrylate latex modified by monobutyl itaconate

Purpose Presently, more and more attention is paid to the cationic polymer latex, which is the polymer or copolymer latex prepared by cationic emulsifier or the positively charged polymer materials. Monobutyl itaconate (MBI), an unsaturated carboxylic acid, its application as functional monomer in emulsion polymerization at low concentration could effectively improve the thermal stability of emulsion and the adhesion of various matrixes, and allow the introduction of reactive groups on the surface of particles after modification. The purpose of this paper is that MBI is used to modify the latex. MBI can produce a cross-linked network structure with acrylate, which can be formed by the hydrolysis in this system. The water molecules cannot permeate into the cross-linked network when the amount of MBI is moderate. Design/methodology/approach The MBI modified cationic acrylate latex was successfully prepared via the semi-continuous emulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and MBI in water phase, which were initiated with water soluble azo initiator and emulsified with the mixed surfactants of dodecyl amine ethoxylates quaternary (DAEQ) and alkyl polyglucosides (APG). The films of the resultant latex were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and contact angle (CA) determinator, respectively. Findings The conditions of preparing the modified latexes were optimized and obtained as follows: the amount of emulsifiers and the initiator are 6.0% (Wt.%) and 0.6% (Wt.%), respectively; the mass ratio of DAEQ to APG is 3:1; the amount of MBI is 4.0% (Wt.%). In this case, the conversion percentage is high and the polymerization stability is good. In comparison with the conventional cationic acrylate latex, the water resistance of modified latex films is improved. Originality/value Preparation of the MBI modified cationic acrylate latex is seldom reported. In this study, The MBI modified cationic acrylate latex was successfully prepared via the semi-continuous emulsion polymerization of BA, MMA and MBI in water phase, which were initiated with water soluble azo initiator and emulsified with the mixed surfactants of DAEQ and APG.