Nanometre fluorinated acrylate latex prepared with gemini surfactant

The nanometre fluorinated acrylate latex was prepared via semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerisation of butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and hexafluorobutyl acrylate in water phase when gemini surfactant and 2,2´-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride are used to be emulsifier and initiator, respectively. The resultant latex is characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, contact angle measurements, dynamic light scattering and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). FTIR spectrum identifies the formation of terpolymer. DSC confirms that the latex is a kind of random terpolymer and the consistency among the chain segment is fairly good. The average particle size of latex is decreased with the increase of the amount of gemini surfactant. The particle size of resultant latex is 22.4 nm and is further confirmed by transmission electron microscope when the amount of gemini surfactant is 3%. However, the viscosity of latex is increased with the increase of the amount of gemini surfactant. In comparison with the nanometre fluorinated acrylate latex, the hydrophobic property of the resultant latex is improved.