Towards improved performance of waterborne polymer dispersions through creation of dense ionic interparticle network within their films

To overcome the main challenge of low performance of the waterborne polymer coatings due to the particulate nature of the polymer dispersions and the complex film formation process, in this work we implemented the strategy of ionic complexation between oppositely charged waterborne polymer particles. For that aim, doubled charged ionic monomers ithaconic acid (IA) and styrenic 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) were used to densely functionalize (meth)acrylic film forming polymer particles, synthesized by seeded semi-batch emulsion polymerization to produce high solids content anionically and cationically charged polymer dispersions, respectively. The main advantage of the double charges in the selected ionic monomers is that they provide high ionic charge density onto charged particles at lower content of ionic monomers.