Direct fluorescence technique to study evolution in transparency and crossing density at polymer-polymer interface during film formation from high-T latex particles

Abstract

The Direct Fluorescence method was used to study the healing process during latex film formation above the glass transition temperature. The latex film was prepared from pyrene (P)-labeled poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles. Heptane was used as a mixing agent. The steady-state fluorescence technique was employed to measure the density of polymer chains crossing the particle particle interface. Various latex films with different latex content were used to study the transparency below and above the healing temperature. Crossing density was found to depend linearly on (time) 1/2 , which was proposed by Prager and Tirrell.