Probing of cosolvents in polymer latex materials by using solvatochromic fluorescence.
The process of film formation is of great importance for the application of organic coatings. In waterborne coatings, organic cosolvents are still indispensable, but regulations force the industry to reduce their amounts. Here we describe a method that uses the solvatochromic fluorescence of a probe molecule copolymerized in an emulsion polymerization process with different monomers to shed light on the partitioning of cosolvents in polymer latex materials. The formulation of the latex with organic cosolvents that are not very water soluble leads to a quantifiable redshift of the emission of the probe. The transfer of the cosolvent upon mixing of cosolvent-containing and cosolvent-free compartments can also be monitored.
Brouwer
Albert M
AM
Universiteit van Amsterdam, Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1018 WS Amsterdam, the Netherlands. a.m.brouwer@uva.nl
Raja
Tanzeela N
TN
Biemans
Koen
K
Nabuurs
Tijs
T
Tennebroek
Ronald
R
D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004583:Electrons; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007840:Latex; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents