Effect of functional monomer GMA on the physical–mechanical properties of coatings from poly(BA–MMA) latexes

Functional acrylic latexes based on the terpolymer of butyl acrylate (BA)–methyl methacrylate (MMA)–glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) were prepared with different amounts of GMA via semi-batch emulsion polymerization at 75 °C, using potassium persulfate as an initiator, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate as an emulsifier and sodium bicarbonate as a buffer. The latexes were characterized by laser light scattering, apparent viscosity, and proton magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. Physical and mechanical properties of cured and uncured latex films were investigated. For uncured films, gel content, solvent resistance, flexibility, and adhesion of uncured films were improved using higher GMA in the feed, while the glass transition temperature ( T g ), surface hydrophobicity, water resistance, tensile modulus and strength, and hardness were decreased. For cured films, higher T g values, more gel content, improved water and solvent resistances, and enhanced hardness and adhesion, were obtained with increasing the GMA contents. Curing the latex films resulted in hydrophilic surfaces.