Convenient synthesis and morphology of latex particles composed of poly (methyl methacrylate)-b-poly (n-butyl acrylate) by 1, 1-diphenylethylene (DPE) seeded emulsion polymerization

Methyl methacrylate-butyl acrylate structural latexes were synthesized by two-stage seeded emulsion polymerization using 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE) as a control reagent. In the first stage, the seed latex particles with the precursor poly (methyl methacrylate-DPE) (P(MMA-DPE)) were prepared, and then the second monomer n-butyl acrylate (nBA) was swollen into the seed latex particles under stirring at room temperature. In the second stage, the polymerization of nBA was thermally initiated at 80 °C, and the latex particles composed of block copolymer were synthesized. The size and morphology of the latex particles were investigated by light scattering and TEM. The contact angles of different latex films were also measured. The block copolymer was characterized by size exclusion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Microphase separation of the block copolymer was examined using atomic force microscopy.