Tertiary amine-containing poly(methyl methacrylate–butadiene–styrene) core/shell nanoparticles with CO2-triggered aggregation behaviour

A new kind of poly(methyl methacrylate–butadiene–styrene) (MBS) core/shell latex nanoparticles with amine groups in the shell was prepared via multistep seeded emulsion copolymerisation of styrene, methyl methacrylate and N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) onto the poly(styrene–butadiene) seed latex in the presence of anionic emulsifier, and their CO 2 -triggered coagulating properties were investigated. Results showed that the emulsion polymerisation could be performed smoothly, and the coagulating time of the amine-containing MBS latexes depended on the DEAEMA content and solid content. The MBS solid powder could be easily obtained by drying and grinding without any extra treatment after the coagulation. A coagulating mechanism of the in-situ opposite charge interaction and the transformation from sodium laurate to lauric acid was proposed, which was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, surface tension and Zeta potential measurements. This facile and smart method might open up industrial potential in cost-effective and environment-friendly latex coagulation.