Traditional impregnation uses aldehyde-based resins during which harmful gases such as formaldehyde are released, posing significant risks to both human health and the environment. Water-based polyacrylic acid emulsions have the advantages of low volatile organic content and safe construction. However, there is a lack of systematic exploration of ultra-fine particle size and low viscosity emulsions for the impregnation process in decorative paper. The work aims to prepare water-based polyacrylic acid emulsions with low particle size, low viscosity, and no volatile toxic gases for the impregnation process. With methyl methacrylate, isooctyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, and ethyl acrylate as polymer monomers and vinyl triethoxysilane as a crosslinking agent, a molecular weight regulator was added to reduce the particle size of the emulsion. The water-based polyacrylic acid emulsion was prepared with the seed semi-continuous emulsion polymerization method. Fourier infrared spectroscopy, universal material testing machine, laser particle size analyzer, and rotational viscometer were used to investigate the main performance indicators such as the stability, mechanical properties, particle size, and viscosity of the emulsion. After the molecular weight regulator was added, the comprehensive performance of the emulsion was significantly improved. After optimization, the average particle size of the emulsion was reduced to below 70 nm, and the viscosity was simultaneously reduced to within 6.0 mPa·s, meeting the basic requirements for the fluid behavior of the impregnation process. In terms of polymer stability, the residual gel rate of the DM system could be controlled at 0.03%, while the D-704 system showed better stability, with the residual gel rate remaining stable between 0.02% and 0.04%. Moreover, the centrifugal sedimentation rate test results indicated that the sedimentation rate of the DM system was between 0.60% and 1.10%, while that of the D-704 system further decreased to 0.45% to 0.94%, demonstrating better storage stability. Mechanical property tests showed that the tensile strength of the latex film modified by D-704 could reach up to 8.36 MPa. When 3-mercaptopyryl acrylate is added as a molecular weight regulator to the emulsion, the water absorption rate decreases from 15.68% to 10.43%, and the water resistance of the latex film is significantly improved, outperforming that of the DM system. This indicates that D-704 has more advantages in regulating particle size, reducing viscosity, and improving polymer stability. The tensile strength reaches 8.36 MPa, and the viscosity is as low as 6 mPa·s, providing better impregnation performance during the impregnation process. This provides an important reference for the structural and performance co-regulation of water-based resins in high-speed and high-permeability impregnation applications, and has clear engineering guidance significance for promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of industries such as decorative paper.
Key words
impregnation resin /
water-based acrylic /
decorative paper
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.content}}
References
[1] WANG W L, JING Y.Preparation of Double-Effect Water-Proof and Oil-Proof Paper Based on Carboxylated Nanocellulose Emulsified Acrylate Polymer[J]. Industrial Crops and Products, 2024, 218: 118995.
[2] European Chemicals Agency.Annex XVII to REACH Regulation: Restrictions on Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers[S]. Helsinki: ECHA, 2023.
[3] 国家质量监督检验检疫总局, 中国国家标准化管理委员会. 室内装饰装修材料人造板及其制品中甲醛释放限量: GB 18580—2017[S]. 北京: 中国标准出版社, 2018.
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China, Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China. Indoor Decorating and Refurbishing Materials—Limit of Formaldehyde Emission of Wood-Based Panels and Finishing Products: GB 18580-2017[S]. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2018.
[4] Park S, Kim J, Lee H.Silane-modified waterborne polymer emulsions for high-performance barrier coatings: A review[J]. Polymers, 2024, 16(8): 1125.
[5] ZHANG L, CHEN Y, LIU H, et al.Recent Advances in Waterborne Polyacrylate Latexes for Eco-Friendly Coating Applications: A Mini Review[J]. Progress in Organic Coatings, 2025, 189: 108312.
[6] LIANG J, XU Z, CHEN H, et al.Preparation and Performance of Waterborne Polyurethane-Acrylate Emulsion for Decorative Paper Impregnation[J]. Polymers, 2024, 16(15): 2156.
[7] ZHANG Q, LIU L, PAN Q, et al.Ultrafine Polyacrylate Latex with Narrow Particle Size Distribution via Seeded Semibatch Emulsion Polymerization[J]. Journal of Polymer Science, 2024, 62(8): 1678-1689.
[8] CHEN H, LIU Y, WANG Z.Effect of Particle Size Distribution on Penetration Behavior of Waterborne Resin Into Porous Paper Substrates[J]. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2025, 350: 122987.
[9] NAKAMURA T, SUZUKI K, TANAKA M.Chain Transfer Agent-Mediated Emulsion Polymerization for Controlled Particle Size and Molecular Weight Distribution[J]. Macromolecular Reaction Engineering, 2024, 18(2): 2300056.
[10] VAN HERK A M. Monomer Transport by Collisions in (Mini) Emulsion Polymerization, a Personal Perspective[J]. Macromolecular Reaction Engineering, 2025, 19(1): 2400013.
[11] DU R L, FIELDING L A. pH-Responsive Nanogels Generated by Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly of a Succinate-Functional Monomer[J]. Macromolecules, 2024, 57(8): 3496-3501.
[12] LI M, WANG X, ZHANG J, et al.Self-Crosslinkable Polyacrylate Latexes Crosslinked with Various Functional Monomers: A Comparative Study on Film Properties and Crosslinking Mechanisms[J]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2024, 141(15): e55231.
[13] XIE J R, ZHAO S L, TAN R, et al.Enhancing Film Cross-Linking through VTES Copolymerization in Polymer Latex for Increasing Controlled-Release Performance of Film-Coated Fertilizer Granules[J]. ACS Agricultural Science & Technology, 2024, 4(6): 644-653.
[14] WANG R, LI T, XU Y.Synergistic Effects of Chain Transfer Agent and Crosslinker on Mechanical Properties and Water Resistance of Polyacrylate Latex Films[J]. European Polymer Journal, 2025, 208: 112856.
[15] 杨文强. 核壳型自消光水性聚氨酯丙烯酸酯的制备及性能研究[D]. 广州: 广东工业大学, 2025.
YANG W Q.Preparation of Core-Shell Self-Matting Waterborne Polyurethane Acrylates and Applied Properties[D]. Guangzhou: Guangdong University of Technology, 2025.
[16] 蒋欢. 自交联核壳型聚丙烯酸酯去污剂的制备及性能研究[D]. 绵阳: 西南科技大学, 2022.
JIANG H.Preparation and Performance Study of Self-Crosslinked Core-Shell Polyacrylate Decontaminants[D]. Mianyang: Southwest University of Science and Technology, 2022.
[17] 贺琹. 巯基—烯点击反应制备巯基—丙烯酸酯聚合物复合微球及其性能研究[D]. 合肥: 安徽大学, 2016.
HE Q.Preparation and Property of Thiol-Acrylate Copolymer Microspheres via Thiol-Ene Reaction[D]. Hefei: Anhui University, 2016.
PDF(733 KB)
