Molar Mass Effect on the Rate of Polymer Diffusion in Poly(vinyl acetate-co-butyl acrylate) Latex Films

The importance of the molecular weight of ethyl cellulose on the properties of aqueous-based controlled release coatings

Previous investigations of aqueous based ethyl cellulose (EC) latex dispersions have mainly focused on the commercially available viscosity grade 20cps. In this study, dispersions of EC with varying viscosity grades (which correspond to molecular weights), ranging from 4 to 100 cps, were produced and characterised. The dispersions showed particle sizes around 200nm and highly negative ζ-potentials (approx. -100mV), which indicated stable dispersions as confirmed by sedimentation studies. The different latexes were used to produce free-standing film coatings. We hypothesised that the different viscosity grades of EC would result in different properties of the films. We found that an increase in viscosity grade (and higher molecular weight) resulted in lower coalescence between the particles during film formation and thus to higher water permeability than in film coatings of lower molecular weight. After exposure to water the EC 4cps and 20cps film coatings had a more porous structure in the side facing the air during production and drying after immersion in water. Molecular weight is therefore a factor that should be considered when producing pharmaceutical coatings for controlled release.

The influence of nanoparticle architecture on latex film formation and healing properties

We present a study of chain interdiffusion in films formed by specially architectured PBMA nanoparticles by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer -FRET. Polymer nanoparticles contained linear chains with narrower molecular weight distributions than other previous reports, allowing a more detailed study. Apparent fractions of mixing and diffusion coefficients, determined from the quantum efficiency of energy transfer, were used to characterize the interdiffusion mechanism in the different films. The resistance of the films to dissolution by a good solvent was finally correlated with the interdiffusion results, in order to get information about film healing. We concluded that whenever interdiffusion occurs between nanoparticles containing linear chains and fully cross-linked nanoparticles, healing becomes more effective in spite of showing slower interdiffusion. We also observed that particles with longer chains are more effective for film healing. Finally, we concluded that interdiffusion occurs both ways across interfaces in blends formed by particles swollen with linear chains of different molecular weights.

Effect of solvent annealing on the tensile deformation mechanism of a colloidal crystalline polymeric latex film

The influence of solvent annealing on microscopic deformational behavior of a styrene/n-butyl acrylate copolymer latex film subjected to uniaxial tensile deformation was studied by small-angle X-ray scattering. It was demonstrated that the microscopic deformation mechanism of the latex films transformed from a nonaffine deformation behavior to an affine deformation behavior after solvent annealing. This was attributed to the interdiffusion of polymeric chains between adjacent swollen latex particles in the film. It turns out that solvent annealing is much more efficient than thermal annealing due to a much slow evaporation process after solvent annealing.