SURFACE-STRUCTURE OF LATEX FILMS, VARNISHES, AND PAINT FILMS STUDIED WITH AN ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPE

The surface topographies of different latex films, varnishes, and white paint films were investigated with an atomic force microscope. Four different latexes, consisting of homogeneous and composite particles as well as mixtures of different particles, were studied. The atomic force microscope proved to be an appropriate tool to reveal the surface structure of the films under ambient conditions. One result was that the gloss of the paint film is strictly correlated to the surface roughness of the corresponding pure latex film. With the exception of one example, the study revealed that solvents needed to prepare a varnish tend to reduce the surface roughness.