Surfactants in heterophase polymerization: A study of film formation using force microscopy

Sodium dodecyl sulfate improves the properties of bio-based wood adhesive derived from micronized starch: Microstructure and rheological behaviors

Enhancing the performance of starch-based wood adhesive is vitally important for its practical applications. Accordingly, we designed the use of micronized starch (MS) to prepare micronized starch-based wood adhesive (MSWA) by incorporating 0, 2, 4 and 6% (w/w, dry basis starch) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The results showed that 2% SDS exhibited remarkable improvement in shear strength and viscosity of MSWA. The grafted reaction was demonstrated by ¹H NMR and the steady shear results indicated that the adhesive possessed a pseudoplastic behavior under yield stress conditions. Besides, dynamic rheological measurements were applied to evaluate the structure of MSWA under varying frequencies, temperatures and constant stain. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Zeta potential and surface tension indicated that SDS could improve the surficial properties. Meanwhile, the microstructure of adhesive films and fracture surfaces of glued wood veneers by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the migration of SDS led to the formation of surfactant layer. Furthermore, element analysis revealed the distribution of S/N in latex slices. The results of this study provide the detailed information about the influence of SDS on the rheological properties and microstructures of MSWA, which may facilitate the preparation of high performance bio-based adhesive for wood applications.

Simulation of Vertical Surfactant Distributions in Drying Latex Films

Following our previous contribution ( Gromer, A. et al. Langmuir 2015 , 31 , 10983 - 10994 ) presenting a new simulation tool devoted to particle distributions in drying latex films, this Article describes the prediction of surfactant concentration profiles in the vertical direction during the complete film formation process. The simulation is inspired by cellular automata and equations by Routh and co-workers. It includes effects that were not considered before: surfactant convection by water and surfactant desorption upon particle deformation. It is based on five parameters describing the nature of the polymer/surfactant system and on film formation conditions. In particular, the viscoelastic properties of the polymer were taken into account through the λ̅ parameter introduced by Routh and Russel. Results show the importance of convection by water and the influence of the particular deformation mechanism on the final surfactant distribution. Excesses or depletions can be predicted either on the surface or on the substrate sides, in qualitative agreement with the numerous existing experimental studies. The complex interplay between parameters governing surfactant distributions makes the results unpredictable without the help of such a simulation tool. Therefore, it should be of interest to both industrial and academic scientists.

Modifications of surfactant distributions and surface morphologies in latex films due to moisture exposure

Migration of surfactants in water-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) films exposed to static and cyclic relative humidity conditions was investigated using confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Studied PSA films contain monomers n-butyl acrylate, vinyl acetate, and methacrylic acid and an equal mass mixture of anionic and nonionic nonylphenol ethoxylate emulsifiers. A leveling of surfactant concentration distributions is observed via CRM after films stored at 50% relative humidity (RH) are exposed to a 100% RH for an extended time period, while relatively small increases in surface enrichment occur when films are stored at 0% RH. Use of CRM for binary mixtures containing anionic or nonionic surfactant and latex that has undergone dialysis to remove nonpolymeric components indicates that surfactant-polymer compatibility governs to a great extent surface enrichment, but not changes observed with humidity variations. AFM images show that upon drying latex coatings, surfactant and other additives collect in large aggregation regions, which protrude from film surfaces. These structures are absent at high humidity, which appears to result from lateral spreading across the polymer surface. When humidity is reduced, aggregation regions reform but appear to be smaller and more evenly dispersed, and by cycling humidity between 0 and 100% RH, interfacial enrichment can be seen to diminish. Presented results provide greater insights into the distribution behavior of surfactants in latex films and potential mechanisms for observed issues arising for these systems.

Latex imaging by environmental STEM: application to the study of the surfactant outcome in hybrid alkyd/acrylate systems

Among other uses, latexes are a successful alternative to solvent-borne binders for coatings. Efforts are made to produce hybrid nanostructured latexes containing an acrylic phase and an alkyd phase. However, after the film-forming process, the surfactant used to stabilize these latexes remains in the film, and its location can have a drastic effect on the application properties. Among the processing parameters, the alkyd hydrophobicity can strongly influence this location. This article aims at the imaging of these surfactant molecules in two hybrid latexes with different hydrophobicity level of the alkyd resin. A first part of this paper is dedicated to the understanding of the contrast provided by the surfactant in environmental STEM imaging of latexes. Then, the influence of surfactant-polymer affinity on the surfactant location after film-forming of those hybrid alkyd/acrylate latexes is studied by this technique. It is shown that in the hybrid latex with an alkyd shell (obtained with the most hydrophilic resin), the surfactant molecules tend to remain buried in the alkyd phase. Conversely, in the hybrid latex with an acrylate shell (in the case of the most hydrophobic resin), the surfactant molecules tend to gather into islands like in pure acrylate latex films.

The Emulsion Polymerization of Each of Vinyl Acetate and Butyl Acrylate Monomers Using bis (2-ethylhexyl) Maleate for Improving the Physicomechanical Properties of Paints and Adhesive Films

Improving the water sensitivity of polyvinyl acetate PVAc films as well as pressure sensitivity, adhesion and washability of polybutyl acrylate were achieved by using bis (2-ethylhexyl) maleate (BEHM). The emulsion polymerization kinetics of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate in presence of BEHM was studied. The order of the polymerization reaction with respect to the BEHM in presence of each of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate was studied. The physicomechanical properties of the polyvinyl acetate films and vinyl acetate-butyl acrylate copolymer films were studied in presence of BEHM and the obtained results were matched with those prepared in the presence of pluronic F 108 and showed superior values. The obtained mean average molecular weights were found to be smaller in presence of BEHM assuring the presence of chain transfer reaction.

Water-based latex dispersions 4. Exchange dynamics and residence times of nonylphenol ethoxylate in concentrated latex dispersions

The equilibrium residence times of the nonionic surfactant nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP100) in a latex dispersion were determined using NMR diffusometry. At 16% w/w particle concentration and 0.12, 0.43 and 0.81% w/w NP100, the residence times of the surfactant were 0.16, 1.02 and 4.73 s in solution (tau(A)) and 0.3, 0.37 and 0.61 s on the surface of the particles (tau(B)), respectively. At even higher particle concentration (>45% w/w), tau(A) and tau(B) were 1.47 and 2.2 s. Calculating the number of collisions that ought to result in adsorbed species, at 16% w/w, only 2, 5 and 2 per thousand (corresponding to 0.12, 0.43 and 0.81% w/w NP100) resulted in adsorption, whereas at >45% w/w, only 12 per thousand resulted in adsorption, which suggested that the surfactant was irreversibly adsorbed on the particles. The small increase in collision frequency with increased particle concentration could be a result of a diffusion controlled adsorption, while an energy barrier for desorption controlled the overall exchange dynamics in the dispersion. The slow dynamics in the dispersion was controlled, mainly by the nonylphenol group, which gave NP100 a strong preference to surfaces. In addition, the chain length of the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) group changed the solution behavior from being that of a typical surfactant to that of a polymer.

Improving water sensitivity in acrylic films using surfmers

The water sensitivity of films obtained from high solids content acrylic latexes was investigated, with special focus on the role of the surfactant used in the synthesis step. The performance of films obtained from latexes stabilized by nonionic surfmers was compared to that of the acrylic latexes stabilized with conventional nonionic and anionic surfactants. It was seen that the latexes stabilized with reactive surfactants exhibited a remarkably better resistance to both water permeability and water vapor permeability and therefore enlarged the durability of the films. Atomic force microscopy images suggested that the defects created by surfactant migration in the latexes stabilized with conventional surfactants promoted the permeation of water by capillarity.

The effect of water or salt solution on thin hydrophobic films

Hydrophobic films of polystyrene synthesized in bulk (PS) and by emulsion polymerization in the presence of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (PS-CTAB) or the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (PS-SDS) were characterized by means of ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, and atomic force microscopy. Thin (approximately 65 nm) and thick (approximately 300 nm) films were spin-coated on hydrophilic silicon wafers. PS films presented scarcely tiny holes, while PS-CTAB and PS-SDS films presented holes and protuberances. The former were attributed to dewetting effects and the latter to surfactant clusters. The films were exposed to water or to a 0.1 mol/L NaCl solution for 24 h. Ex situ measurements evidenced strong topographic alterations after the exposure to the fluid. A model based on the diffusion of water (or electrolyte) molecules to the polymer/silcon dioxide interface through holes or defects on the film edges was proposed to explain the appearance of wrinkles and protuberances. In situ ellipsometric measurements were performed and compared with simulations, which considered either a water layer between a polymer and a silcon dioxide layer or an air layer between a polymer and water (medium). In the case of thin PS films, the ellipsometric angles evidenced a very thin (0.5-1.0 nm) air layer between water and the PS films. Upon increasing the PS film thickness, no air layer could be observed by ellipsometry. Regardless of the thickness, the ellipsometric data obtained for PS-CTAB and PS-SDS films did not indicate the presence of an air layer between them and the aqueous media. The dramatic changes in the topography of PS, PS-CTAB, and PS-SDS after immersion in salt solution were explained with proposed models. From a practical point of view, this study is particularly relevant because many hydrophobic polymers are used as substrates for biomedical purposes, where the physiological ionic strength is 0.15 mol/L NaCl.

Advances in reactive surfactants

The study of reactive surfactants and their applications in the synthesis of latexes for waterborne coatings has been recently boosted by two successive European programmes, involving all together eight academic and five industrial laboratories. The most significant results were obtained using surfactants derived from maleic and related anhydrides, or both nonionic and anionic reactive polymeric surfactants. Such surfactants are able to improve the stability of styrenic and acrylic latexes vs. various constraints, such as electrolyte addition, freeze-thawing tests or extraction with alcohol or acetone. The properties of films used in waterborne coatings are also improved in case of water exposure (less water uptake, dimensional stability), as well as improved weatherability, and blocking properties. Formulations for woodstain varnishes, metal coating of printing inks, based on the use of simple polymerizable surfactants, are now in the market.