Preparation of Fast-drying Latexes based on Amine-modified Methyl methacrylate-Butyl acrylate Copolymer Nanoparticles via Emulsion Polymerization as a Binder for Traffic Paints

In the early 1980s, waterborne traffic paints began to receive serious consideration as an environmentally safer alternative to the traditional traffic paints. These waterborne traffic paints are primarily based on acrylic emulsions and therefore dramatically have lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission [1, 2]. One of the choices for resins used in waterborne traffic paints is pure acrylic emulsion composed of butyl acrylate (BA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) that shows the best performances. Problems that have been experienced with various waterborne traffic paint formulations relative to solvent-borne ones are slow drytime and relatively poor durability. The presence of amine-modified polymer or the blend ofpolymer with a polyfunctional amine or the combination thereof enhances the dry time of such traffic markings [1]. In order to have a more stable system, one should use colloidal stabilizers [3]. This work describes the preparation of stable, copolymer latexes containing polymeric nanoparticles, at high solids content in the presence of emulsifier with an order of magnitude smaller than those typically (1-6 wt% of monomers) employed. After identification of the obtained nanoparticles with controlled compositional gradient, physical and mechanical properties of the resulting films were determined and discussed