Contact of Polymer Latex Particles with Metals

Abstract
Polymer latex has been widely used in decorative paints and adhesives. It is now beginning to find applications in steel protection where coalescence to form an impermeable coating is a prime requirement. The mechanism by which latex particles coalesce into a coherent and adhering coating is described. Electron microscope observations demonstrate that latex spheres deform elastically as coalescence occurs, this elastic deformation being driven by interfacial attractive forces. Direct measurement of the deformation allows the calculation of the interfacial energy both for the polymer-polymer interaction and for the metal-polymer interface.

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