Influence of alcohols on stability and mechanical properties of polyacrylate coating material

Alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, and ethylene glycol were introduced into waterborne polyacrylate latex to study their influence on their stability and mechanical properties of polyacrylate. Ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, and ethylene glycol were showed to keep the polyacrylate latex steady when the pH values were higher than 3.00, 6.00, 3.00, and 2.50, respectively, as determined by centrifugation. The latex stability vs time was studied by Turbiscan LAB and the results are in good agreement with the change of latex particle size observed by dynamic light scattering. The results indicate that the particle size was affected by the alcohol molecular structure. Alcohol amounts and type had effects on breaking strength and elongation at break of polyacrylate film to varying degrees. The latex film-forming process was measured and morphology of the latex film was observed by scanning electron microscope. Different performances of mechanical properties were caused by the morphology of latex film resulting from the forming process.