Acid-base approach to latex particles containing specific groups based on wettability measurements

Polar properties of latex particles containing specific groups with various surface charge densities were examined from contact angle measurements using "old" polar/dispersive models. It was determined that the Fowkes approach is quite sufficient for classifying our functionalized polystyrene latices. The pertinence to our systems of the acid-base approach, which has a more pronounced chemical background, was then investigated, and the strong dependence of the acid-base parameters (gamma(+), gamma(Theta)) on the acid-base scale chosen for the reference liquid (water) was shown. Finally, using the receding angle values revealed the outermost surface buried moieties in the latex particles, which were not seen in the advancing angle measurements. (C) 1998 Academic Press.