Morphology and properties of waterborne adhesives made from hybrid polyacrylic/montmorillonite clay colloidal dispersions showing improved tack and shear resistance

Synthesis of cellulose nanocrystal armored latex particles for mechanically strong nanocomposite films

Mechanically strong films are generated from cellulose nanocrystal armored latex particles synthesized by emulsion polymerization.

Co-encapsulation of CdSe/ZnS and CeO2 nanoparticles in waterborne polymer dispersions: enhancement of fluorescence emission under sunlight

Hybrid core/shell polymer particles with co-encapsulated quantum dots (QDs) (CdSe/ZnS) and CeO₂ nanoparticles have been synthesized in a two stage semi-batch emulsion polymerization process. In the first stage, both inorganic nanoparticles are incorporated into cross-linked polystyrene (PS) particles by miniemulsion polymerization. This hybrid dispersion is then used as the seed to produce the core/shell particles by starved feeding of methyl methacrylate and divinylbenzene (MMA/DVB) monomers. The core/shell hybrid dispersions maintained in the dark exhibit stable fluorescence emission over time, and notably their fluorescence intensity increases under sunlight, likely due to the effect of the co-encapsulated CeO₂ nanoparticles that change the optical properties of the environment of the quantum dot particles. The fluorescence increase depends on the QD : CeO₂ ratio, with the 1 : 2 ratio resulting in the highest increase (280%). Furthermore, a film forming hybrid latex has been synthesized using the former core/shell PS/QD/CeO₂/PMMA particles as seeds and feeding under semi-batch conditions methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate and acrylic acid. Films cast from this core/shell/shell hybrid dispersion also exhibit fluorescence, and as for the core/shell latex the fluorescence increases under sunlight exposure. Interestingly, the increase in the film is at least two times higher than that in the latex, which is attributed to the additional effect of the neighboring coalesced particles containing CeO₂ affecting the environment of the QDs.

Synthesis of clay-armored poly(vinylidene chloride-co-methyl acrylate) latexes by Pickering emulsion polymerization and their film-forming properties

Use of LAPONITE® clay platelets as Pickering stabilizers of vinylidene chloride-based latexes.

ATRP mediated encapsulation of Gibbsite: fixation of the morphology by using a cross-linker

Gibbsite platelets were successfully encapsulated using a cross-linker in ATRP-mediated starved feed emulsion polymerisation.

Encapsulation of unmodified Gibbsite via conventional emulsion polymerisation using charged co-oligomers

A simple procedure for the encapsulation of unmodified Gibbsite was developed using conventional emulsion polymerization and charged oligomers as stabilisers.

Crosslinked reduced graphene oxide/polymer composites via in situ synthesis by semicontinuous emulsion polymerization

From aqueous dispersions of crosslinked polymer/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite nanoparticles, synthesized by semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerization, to electrically conductive and reinforced composite films.

Encapsulation of clay within polymer particles in a high-solids content aqueous dispersion

By using a two-step polymerization process, it was possible to encapsulate clay platelets within polymer particles dispersed in water. First, seed polymer particles with chemically bonded clay were obtained by batch miniemulsion polymerization. Then, the clay was buried within the particles by the addition of neat monomer in a second step. The final stable dispersions can have a solids content of up to 50 wt %. Transmission electron microscopy images clearly show the presence of clay platelets inside the polymer colloids, although they are not totally exfoliated. The obtained nanocomposites showed an increase in both the storage modulus in the rubbery state and the water resistance as the clay content increases. The approach presented here might be useful for encapsulating other high-aspect ratio nanofillers.