Miniemulsion Polymerization of Fatty Acid- Derived Monomers

摘要

Traditionally, latex paints rely on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to plasticize the latex polymer during film formation. The VOCs then evaporate leaving a hard polymer film. However, with increasing environmental concerns, the use of VOCs is being restricted. One way to eliminate the need for VOCs is to start with a soft polymer and then apply room temperature crosslinking to harden the polymer film. Alkyd paints have the ability to crosslink at room temperature1, but these paints contain large amounts of VOCs due to their solvent-based nature and therefore, are undesirable. However, one can look at alkyd paints for their source of crosslinking moieties, namely unsaturated groups in the fatty chains that undergo an autooxidative crosslinking mechanism. If these unsaturated fatty chains can be incorporated into a latex paint, the polymer films can then also crosslink by an autooxidation mechanism, and thus create a low VOC system with the ability to crosslink at room temperature.