Poly(glycidyl methacrylate-POSS)-co-poly(methyl methacrylate) latex by epoxide opening reaction and emulsion polymerization

The novel latex of P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA is synthesized for coatings by glycidyl methacrylate polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (GMA-POSS) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). First, GMA-POSS is prepared by the epoxide opening reaction of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and aminopropyllsobutyl POSS (NH₂-POSS). Then, the as-obtained GMA-POSS monomer is directly used for emulsion polymerization with MMA to obtain P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA latex. The chemical structure of P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA latex is characterized. The core–shell morphology of latex is proved to distribute uniform spherical particles as 20–60 nm in diameter. The effect of POSS content on the properties of film casting from P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA latex is studied for surface roughness, static contact angle, thermostability, and universal mechanical testing. The introducing of POSS into latex leads to an increase of P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA in the hydrophobicity, adhesive strength, thermal and mechanical proprieties. When GMA-POSS amount is controlled at 33 wt%, the glass transition temperature (T_g) and static contact angle are increased into 130 °C and 102º, respectively, and the adhesion to the substrate is raised to 477.2 MPa. Therefore, P(GMA-POSS)-co-PMMA is promising to be suggested as coating material.