title: Void closure and interdiffusion processes during latex film formation from surfactant-free polystyrene particles: a fluorescence study.
abstract: This study reports a steady state fluorescence (SSF) technique for studying film formation from surfactant-free polystyrene (PS) latex particles. The latex films were prepared from pyrene (P)-labeled PS particles at room temperature and annealed at elevated temperatures for 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-min time intervals above the glass transition (T(g)) temperature of polystyrene. During the annealing processes, the transparency of the film changed considerably. Scattered light (I(sc)) and fluorescence intensity (I(0P)) from P were measured after each annealing step to monitor the stages of film formation. Evolution of transparency of latex films were monitored using photon transmission intensity, I(tr). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to detect variation in the physical structure of annealed films. Onset temperature for film formation, T(0), void closure, T(v), and healing temperatures, T(h), were determined and corresponding activation energies were measured. Void closure and interdiffusion stages were modeled and related activation energies were determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Istanbul Technical University, 80626 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saziye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uğur
authors.forename: Abdelhamid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elaissari
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pekcan