Investigation of The Effect of Nanosilica Particles on the Particle Size and Distribution of Acrylate Terpolymer/Nanosilica Latex and Surface Properties

Acrylic-based polymer coatings are of paramount importance owing to their versatile potential applications. In order to improve various properties of such coatings, different attempts are usually carried out, among which is to employ nanoparticles, which results in nanostructured acrylic coatings. In this study, the effect of silica nanoparticles on emulsion polymerization reaction and surface interaction of nanoparticles with latex particles has been investigated. In addition, the effect of silica nanoparticles on final conversion percentage, reaction coagulum percentage and particle size and distribution of latex has been evaluated. The results of dynamic light scattering analysis showed a change in the size of polymer particles along with a change in the concentration of silica nanoparticles. Therefore, the addition of silica nanoparticles during the emulsion polymerization reaction broadens the size distribution of the latex particles. In all synthesized samples, in spite of the presence of silica nanoparticles, the conversion percentage was higher than 95%, and the amount of coagulum was less than 0.2%, indicating the choice of suitable formulation and favorable conditions. Subsequently, the synthesized latex film was made; Cross-Cut adhesion tests, pencil hardness, and contact angle were used to study the surface properties of the nanocomposite.