pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S11 - Polymer Synthesis and Modification
Oral Presentation
 
 

Effect of Silica Nanoparticles on Colloid Stability and Adhesive Properties of Polyvinyl Acetate-co-Butyl Acrylate.

zungu simphiwe (1)*

(1) CSIR - Gauteng - SouthAfrica

In the South African industrial emulsion polymerisation space, colloid stability is achieved using special interfacial components such as surfactants and water soluble polymers to avoid aggregation resulting in latex with low solid content. However, these materials tend to be relatively expensive as compared to nanoparticles. We aim to substitute traditional expensive stabilizers with cheaper nanoparticles to save cost of production. Semi-batch emulsion polymerization will be the method of synthesis, since the process is best suitable for the monomers in use and it is the industrially recommended process. Polymerization method that will be used is the semi-batch emulsion polymerization, which is the process best suitable for the employed monomers and it is the industrially recommended process. As part of the methodology, we separated the project into three different phases in order to address the question of monomer ratio (phase 1), filler concentration and filler feeding (phase 2) as well as Research product comparison with market product (phase 3). TEM, SEM and Contact angle will be used as main characterisation techniques. Nanoparticles have also shown good improvement on adhesive properties of other co-polymer systems. From literature that was considered, it is out of the best of our knowledge that PVAc-co-BA system have not been stabilised using nanoparticles and that is the novelty of this project.