Theodore Provder

Cure Reaction Kinetics Characterization of Some Model Organic Coatings Systems by FT-IR and Thermal Mechanical Analysis

During the last several years the coatings industry has met the challenges of government regulations concerning volatile organic compound emissions and the increasing costs of petroleum based solvents by developing a variety of new coatings technologies. This has led to a need for improved methods of materials characterization. Techniques for assessing degree of cure and fractional conversion based upon fundamental reaction kinetics are included in these needs.

Determination of Gel Content of Acrylic Latexes by Size Exclusion Chromatography

Abstract The percent gel of a number of acrylic latexes was measured by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Latexes studied were emulsion polymerized butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate copolyraers with up to 70% gel content. Tetrahydrofuran (TFH) was used as the solvent for the latex and chromatographic mobile phase. To optimize the separation, various pore sizes of controlled porosity glass (CPG-10) column packing were tested. Best results were obtained for a combination of three columns (3/8 inch I. D. and 4 foot long) packed with 75A, 370A and 729A porosity CPG packings. The SEC results with analysis time of less than 2 hours compared favorably with those of the conventional gravimetric gel content method.