Vinyl acetate Semi-Continuous emulsion terpolymerization with butyl acrylate and 2-Ethyl hexyl acrylate monomers

Abstract

In this article we report preparation, physico-chemical and mechanical characterization of poly (vinyl acetate) (PAVc) fi lms resulting from the copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) with two acrylate monomers, butyl acrylate (BuA) and 2‐ethyl hexyl acrylate (2-EHA) via emulsion polymerization method. Vinyl acetate (VAc) was used as principal monomer and copolymerized with butyl acrylate (BuA) and 2‐ethyl hexyl acrylate (2-EHA) at the feeding ratio of 85/15/0, 85/0/15, 85/5/10, 85/10/5, 85/7.5/7.5 wt % of VAc/BuA/2-EHA using deionised water as dispersion medium. The semi-continuous emulsion polymerization was carried out in the presence of potassium persulfate used as free radical initiator, two emulsifiers, anionic and non-ionic surfactants and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) used as a protective colloidal. The obtained copolymers were further analysed by Brookfi eld viscosimeter, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR/ATR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical tests. The infl uence of composition on thermal characteristics of the obtained fi lms is described