Preparation and characterization of poly(trimethylolpropane triacrylate)/flaky aluminum composite particle by in situ polymerization

Poly(trimethylolpropane triacrylate)/flaky aluminum composite particle was prepared by in situ polymerization in order to improve the corrosion resistance and adhesive property of aluminum pigments. The effect of monomer concentration, initiator concentration and feeding mode on the conversion, percentage of grafting and grafting efficiency in the preparation was studied. It was found that poly (trimethylolpropane triacrylate) had been successfully grafted on the surface of flaky aluminum through chemical bond, rather than the simple physical adsorption. Evolved hydrogen detection and pulling experiment showed that the corrosion resistance and adhesive property of composite particle had been markedly enhanced, implying that flaky aluminum had been compactly encapsulated with a layer of poly(trimethylolpropane triacrylate) by in situ polymerization. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.