Design and fabrication of PVAc-based inverted core/shell (ICS) structured adhesives for improved water-resistant wood bonding performance: II. Influence of copolymerizing-grafting sequential reaction

PVAc-based inverted core/shell (ICS) structured latex adhesive with improved water- and heat-resistance was prepared by a copolymerizing-grafting sequential reaction approach. The sequential reaction process combines the function of a copolymer layer and an active grafting site to controllably achieve the thermodynamic non-equilibrium ICS morphology with hydrophilic poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) cores and hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) shells. The difference between the sequential reaction approach and the chemical grafting method was explored. Structured latex particle morphology , transferring from strawberry-like particles, over particles with large and irregular PS protuberances, to nearly spherical particles with a smooth surface, was microscopically visualized by changing the amount of butyl acrylate (BA) in the PVAc copolymer cores. The heat- and water-resistant bonding of PVAc-based adhesives on wood blocks were evaluated by shear strength at both dry and wet conditions, as well as the boiling water failure time. The results showed that a significant improvement of water- and heat-resistance, especially for boiling water resistance, was successfully obtained. This novel approach paves a way for controlled design and manufacture of high-performance emulsion adhesives through tailoring particle morphology.