Styrene Acrylic Emulsion for Construction

Styrene- Acrylic emulsion: Its’ combined performance with economy due to their high pigment loading properties, good water and alkali resistance and find application in a wide range of paints for both interior and exterior applications. Polymers of this kind represent more than half of the total consumption of polymers used in the market.

Important Properties Of Emulsion

After knowing the different kinds of emulsions, it is also important to differentiate the various emulsions by their properties so that it is possible to identify the most appropriate emulsion for the desired end application. The important properties are listed below:

1. SOLIDS: The solids or polymer content of an emulsion should not be viewed in isolation as the performance is governed not just by solids, but also by its chemical composition as well as particle size.

2. pH: The pH of emulsion can be either acidic or alkaline.

3. VISCOSITY: In emulsion paints, there is no direct co relation between the viscosity of the emulsion and the viscosity of the final paint. This is so because the paint viscosity is also largely influenced by the thickener and extender combinations as well as particle size and chemical composition of the emulsion.

4. PARTICLE SIZE: Particle size of emulsions for paint applications ranges from 0.1 to 1.5 microns. The particle size has a direct influence on pigment binding, gloss, coalescence and the flow properties of the final paint. Finer particle size emulsions import better pigment binding, gloss and coalescence to the final paint. The flow properties of such emulsions need to be improved by a proper formulation to take full advantage of their other good properties.

5. GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE (Tg): The minimum film forming temperature (MFFT) of a polymer is closely related to its Tg. This temperature is derived from the combination of monomers used in the polymer. This is the minimum temperature at which the paint emulsion will form a continuous film. The flexibility, adhesion, and mechanical resistance of the final paint will be depend upon the Tg of the monomers used.

6. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: The chemical composition is determined by the monomers used in its production and this composition, influences the resistance properties of a paint. As vinyl acetate monomer is susceptible to hydrolysis in the presence of water and alkali, all copolymers of vinyl acetate monomer are water sensitive. Vam -Veova emulsions, too will remain susceptible to hydrolysis, unless they contain at least 20-25% Veova, which will make them unviable in price. Pure acrylic and styrene acrylic are the most resistant to hydrolysis, due to the hydrophobicity of side chains of acrylic esters and the styrene ring.

7. From the foregoing, it is clear that for interior applications, the particle size and glass transition temperature need to be considered, while for exterior paints, the chemical composition also needs to be taken into account.