Preparation of crosslinkable cationic polyacrylate latex and its film properties.

Cationic polyacrylate latex has attracted extensive attention due to its special properties and potential applications in wood primers, metal coatings, and fabric treatments, etc. However, cationic polyacrylate latex has poor durability and stability, which limits its use in practical applications. In this study, a functional cationic monomer (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) dimethyl [2-[(2-methyl-1-oxoallyl)oxy]ethyl] ammonium chloride (DEAC) was combined with two conventional monomers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) to prepare cationic polyacrylate latex by a semi-continuous emulsion polymerization. The obtained latexes showed typical cationic character with zeta potential in the range of + 40 to + 65 mV. The effect of DEAC on the stability of latex was studied and good alkali resistance could be gained at high DEAC content. Water resistance and mechanical properties of the film before and after crosslinking are studied in detail. The results showed that the water absorption reduced from 60.04% to a minimum of 9.18%, and the tensile strength increased from 3.9 to 8.4 MPa, which was comparable to solvent-based polyacrylate films. This work provides a new strategy for the preparation of waterborne cationic polyacrylate latex with improved water resistance and good mechanical properties, etc., which can be applied in papermaking, textiles, wood primers, and other potential fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]