Waterborne acrylic resins with a solid content higher than 40 wt% were obtained by miniemulsion polymerisation of methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and acrylic acid using a HCR as osmotic agent.

 

HCR led to faster film hardness development

 

The resin leads to a higher hydrophobicity for the acrylic latex film and acts as osmotic agent in miniemulsion polymerisation preventing Ostwald ripening, leading to latexes with particle sizes, size distributions, and stability comparable to those obtained using n-hexadecane as osmotic agent. However, the monomer conversion and molecular weight were lower, indicating the occurrence of a chain-transfer reaction. Atomic force microscopy analysis demonstrated that a smooth film surface with phase-separated morphology was formed when using HCR. Faster film hardness development was achieved with HCR comparing with hexadecane. Compared with market standard in a paint formulation, a similar performance was achieved.