Influence of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol on polymer diffusion in poly(butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) latex films

WALTER F. SCHROEDER; YUANQIN LIU; J. PABLO TOMBA; MOHSEN SOLEIMANI; WILLIE LAU; MITCHELL A. WINNIK

Los Cocos, Argentina

Simposio; V Simposio Binacional de Polímeros Argentino-Chileno, ARCHIPOL; 2009

Sociedad Chilena de Química – Asociación Argentina de Polímeros

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments are carried out to examine the effect of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol on the early stages of polymer diffusion in poly(butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) latex films. In our approach, we temporarily arrest the drying process of a wet latex film by sealing the film in a previously cooled airtight sample chamber. This arrests propagation of the drying front and suppresses polymer diffusion during the measurements. We then measure donor fluorescence decays from 0.5 mm diameter spots at various locations on the film. From our analysis, we obtain information about the earliest stages of polymer diffusion as the film is still drying. We also investigate the effect of these glycols on polymer diffusion at longer aging times on pre-dried latex films. EG and PG delay the onset of polymer diffusion in the region close to the drying front. However, the effect of these diols changes over time, giving leading to an enhancement of polymer diffusion at later aging times by plasticization of the polymer matrix.