Poly(glycidyl methacrylate-POSS)-co-poly(methyl methacrylate) latex by epoxide opening reaction and emulsion polymerization

The novel latex of P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA is synthesized for coatings by glycidyl methacrylate polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (GMA-POSS) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). First, GMA-POSS is prepared by the epoxide opening reaction of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and aminopropyllsobutyl POSS (NH2-POSS). Then, the as-obtained GMA-POSS monomer is directly used for emulsion polymerization with MMA to obtain P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA latex. The chemical structure of P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA latex is characterized. The core-shell morphology of latex is proved to distribute uniform spherical particles as 20-60 nm in diameter. The effect of POSS content on the properties of film casting from P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA latex is studied for surface roughness, static contact angle, thermostability, and universal mechanical testing. The introducing of POSS into latex leads to an increase of P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA in the hydrophobicity, adhesive strength, thermal and mechanical proprieties. When GMA-POSS amount is controlled at 33 wt%, the glass transition temperature (T (g)) and static contact angle are increased into 130 A degrees C and 102A(0), respectively, and the adhesion to the substrate is raised to 477.2 MPa. Therefore, P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA is promising to be suggested as coating material.