Emulsion Polymerization of Co-polymers Having Both Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Side Chains and Their Adhesion Properties

We have studied on the surface and adhesion properties for acrylic terpolymers, having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic side chains, synthesized via solution polymerization. In order to develop a waterborne material. we tried to synthesize these terpolymers via emulsion polymerization. The polymeric emulsion synthesized was mainly composed of methyl methacrylate (MMA), methoxy-polyethyleneglycol methacrylate (MPEGMA) having hydrophilic side chains and methoxypolypropyleneglycol methacrylate (MPEGMA) having hydrophobic side chains. The viscosities of this series increased with an increase in the content of the co-monomer such as MPEGMA and (MPEGMA). This behavior resulted in the increase in the diameter and heterogeneity of the emulsion particle via AFM observation. Furthermore. the tensile adhesion strength and 90-degree peel strength of the adhesive of these polymeric emulsions were measured. In the case of polymeric emulsion composed of the same content of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic component, the adhesion property showed the highest value. However, since the adhesion properties as a practical applicable adhesive were poor, some improvements were required. When the composition above was modified with butyl acrylate (BA), the improvement effect on adhesion strength was accepted. In particular, 90-degree peel strength increased up to a maximum of 400% of the original value.