Charla/Poster: Production of acrylic-casein hybrid lattices by emulsion polymerization

PICCHIO, M.L.; FIGUEROA, N.; MINARI, R.M.; GONZÁLEZ, V.D.; PASSEGGI (JR), M.C.G.; VEGA, J.R.; BARANDIARAN, M.J.; GUGLIOTTA, L.M.

Cancún, México, 6-11 May

Conferencia; PRE-8, Polymer Reaction Engineering VIII; 2012

Engineering Conferences International

In this work the synthesis of hybrid acrylic-casein lattices is considered with the aim of improving the properties of the natural substance by incorporating acrylates as a second synthetic material. An adequate balance between the application properties of caseins and acrylic polymers is achieved when they form a compatible system; and for this reason, the extent of casein incorporation to the acrylics (casein degree of grafting, CDG), is a key variable to develop a successful polymerization strategy. Several kinetic results are presented after evaluating different polymerization conditions, initiator type and concentrations, casein contents, and monomer formulations. The use of hydroperoxide initiators (instead of thermal initiators) allows the initiation of the polymerization on the protein amino groups, and therefore the casein incorporation becomes increased. Also, the kinetic emulsion polymerization is affected at high casein concentration, giving place to a constant hybrid particle nucleation up to the end of the reaction. AFM and TEM were employed to observe the core-shell particles and the nanostructure films; and an ad-hoc analytical procedure was proposed to evaluate the CDG. Expuso: MINARI, R.M.