Surface energetics of films of poly(vinyl acetate butyl acrylate) emulsion copolymers

Vinyl acetate (VA) and butyl acrylate (BA) monomers were emulsion copolymerized by using controlled monomer and initiator addition method. Particle size distributions, viscosity average molecular weights (<(M)over bar (V)>), glass-transition temperatures (T-g degrees) and molar composition of the copolymers were determined. Surface tension components of the copolymer films were calculated from contact angle data of various liquids by using Van Oss-Good methodology. A decrease of average particle size and T-g degrees was found by the increase of BA content. <(M)over bar (V)> increased up to 40mol% BA, then decreased. Apolar Lifshitz-Van der Waals surface tension component was not affected by the change in BA content; however, electron donor surface tension coefficient (gamma(s)(-)) decreased considerably with the BA increase. The work of adhesion was calculated for cellulosic substrate-latex film interfaces. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.