title: Resolving the film-formation dilemma with infrared radiation-assisted sintering.
abstract: The film formation of an acrylate latex with a glass-transition temperature of 38 °C has been achieved through the use of near-infrared (NIR) radiative heating. A hard, crack-free coating was obtained without the addition of plasticizers. Sintering of acrylate particles was confirmed through measurements using atomic force microscopy. The addition of an NIR-absorbing polymer increased the rate of particle deformation such that it was significantly greater than obtained in a convection oven at 60 °C. The results are consistent with a lower polymer viscosity under infrared radiation, according to a simple analysis using a standard model of sintering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Surrey , Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Argyrios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beharrell
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Keddie