A study of poly(butadiene/methacrylic acid) dispersions: from pH-responsive behaviour to the effects of added Ca2+

This study investigates the effects of added Ca(2+) on the properties of poly(Bd/MAA) dispersions (1,3-butadiene and methacrylic acid) and considers the effect of particle composition on the pK(a). Four latex dispersions are considered in detail. These include poly(Bd/6MAA) and poly(Bd/20MAA) which contain, 6 and 20 wt% MAA, respectively, based on the total monomer mass used for dispersion preparation. Two model systems are also used for comparison. These are poly(Bd) and poly(EA/33MAA/BDDA) (EA and BDDA are ethyl acrylate and butanediol diacrylate). The latter is a well-studied model pH-responsive microgel. The apparent pK(a) of the poly(Bd/MAA) dispersions was determined from potentiometric titrations and found to increase with Bd content. The pH-dependence of the particle size was studied using photon correlation spectroscopy. Electrophoretic mobility measurements were also used. The hydrodynamic diameters and mobilities exhibited major changes as the pH approached the pK(a) for the particles. The critical coagulation concentrations were also measured. The results indicate that Ca(2+) caused pronounced dispersion instability at low pH. Moreover, Ca(2+) prevents swelling of the poly(Bd/MAA) particles at high pH. It was found that efficient ionic binding of all of the RCOO(-) groups within the poly(Bd/20MAA) particles occurred when the mole ratio of RCOO(-) to Ca(2+) was less than or equal to 2.0. Consideration of all the data leads to the suggestion that poly(Bd/MAA) particles have a core-shell structure. It is suggested that the particle core contains mostly poly(Bd) and that the shell is comprised of lightly crosslinked poly(Bd-co-MAA) copolymer.