Agglomeration behavior and mechanism of polybutadiene latex by nanocomposite emulsion particles

Polymer agglomeration method is an efficient way to enlarge the particle size of polybutadiene latex (PBL). However, thus far, the particle size of polymer agglomerating agent and agglomerated PBL could not been accurately regulated, and there is a lack of investigation of agglomeration mechanism. Herein, an efficient way for regulating the particle size of the agglomerating agent and PBL was proposed. It was found that the particle size of agglomerating agents can be obtained in the range of 69 nm to 143 nm by adjusting the monomer content and the amount of α-methacrylic acid in the emulsion polymerization process. Then, the effects of different agglomeration parameters on the particle size of agglomerated PBL were investigated, including the amount, the α-MAA content and the particle size of agglomerating agent, agglomeration temperature and agglomeration time. The results indicated that the particle size of agglomerated PBL first increased and then decreased to a stable state with the increase of the amount of agglomerating agent. This phenomenon was quite different from the results of existing studies, which show that the particle size of agglomerated PBL gradually increases with the increase of the amount of agglomerating agent. According to the investigation of agglomeration process of PBL, the PBL agglomeration mechanism of dispersion-adsorption-coalescence-shrinkage was proposed. This study not only provides theoretical support for the PBL polymer agglomeration process, but also provides a practical way to increase acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) production efficiency.