Emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate-butyl acrylate copolymer

Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) prepared by emulsion polymerization has broad applications for additives such as paint binder, adhesive for wood and paper due to its low glass transition temperature which help to plasticize substrate resins. Since emulsion polymerization has a disadvantage that surfactant and ionic initiator degrade properties of the product polymer, poly(vinyl acetate-co-butyl acrylate) (VAc-BA) was synthesized using potassium persulfate as catalyst and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as protective colloid to prevent the degradation. The copolymer latex product was internally plasticized and has enhanced colloid stability, adhesion, tensile strength and elongation. During VAc-BA emulsion polymerization, no coagulation and complete conversion occur with the reactant mixture of 0.7 wt% potassium persulfate, 15 wt% poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA-217), and the balanced monomer that the weight ratio of vinyl acetate to butyl acrylate is 19. As the concentrations of PVA increase, the copolymerization becomes faster and polymer particles are more stable, resulting in enhanced mechanical stability of the VAc-BA copolymer. However, the size of the polymer particles decreases with increasing PVA contents. Properties of the VAc-BA copolymer, such as minimum film formation temperature, glass transition temperature, surface morphology, molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, tensile strength and elongation, were characterized using differential scanning calorimeter, transmission electron microscope and other instruments.