High solids Pickering miniemulsion polymerization

Surfactant free 50 wt% solids content latexes were synthesized by means of miniemulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and Veova10 using modest amount (<= 10 wt% based on monomer) of silica as a Pickering stabilizer. The silica was surface modified with PEO chains to improve its adsorption on the miniemulsion droplets. Coagulum free latexes were produced using oil-soluble initiators. The latexes were stabilized by modified silica particles aggregated at the surface of the polymer particles and yielded glossy films with a minimum film forming temperature of 26 degrees C. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.