Polysiloxane/polyacrylate composite latexes with balanced mechanical property and breathability: Effect of core/shell mass ratio

Abstract

Polysiloxane/polyacrylate (PSi/PA) core/shell latexes are fabricated, and the particle morphology, the film structure, as well as the properties of the latex films are investigated by comparing with blend latexes, and the relationship between structure and property is proposed. Results indicate that the structure and property of the latex films heavily depend on the particle morphology. The sea-island latex films with uniform distribution of PSi phases can be formed from the PSi/PA core/shell latexes, and with the mass ratio from 1:1 to 1:4, their tensile strength and elongation at break are close to the pure PA latex film, while the elastic recovery and water vapor permeability improve notably. It is found that the phase segregation occurs in the blend latex films, and although the blend latex films provide better water vapor breathability, their mechanical properties sacrifice obviously. Therefore, the various properties must be balanced for practical applications and the core/shell latexes are competitive for meeting the balanced requirements.

Surface Modification Design for Improving the Strength and Water Vapor Permeability of Waterborne Polymer/SiO2 Composites: Molecular Simulation and Experimental Analyses

“…The water vapor permeation rate is primarily assumed by the diffusion process and adsorption/desorption process, which are influenced by the composition and structure of the polymer chains. The soft polymer chains of polyacrylate can give more free volume for the passage of water vapor molecules, although hydrophobic segments of polyacrylate are detrimental to the adsorption process [50].…”

Cationic Emulsion Polymerization of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) in Mixtures with Alkoxysilanes

“…Polysiloxane obtained in that patented process contained linear segments originating from polymerized D4 and branched segments originating from the hydrolysis of trialkoxysilanes. The synthesis of partly crosslinked silicone resin in an aqueous emulsion by polymerizing the mixtures of D4 with methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MATMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was investigated [ 24 , 25 , 26 ] before and after that patent was granted, but the course of such a reaction has never been studied. The aqueous dispersions of silicone polymers obtained in these works were later used as starting dispersions for the emulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers.…”