Styrene Butadiene Latex

Siam Synthetic Latex Co., Ltd.

Discussions:

• What is Latex?
• Latex Characterization
• SB Latex applications
• Health hazard and safe handling information
• Q&A
What is Latex?
• LATEX is a white, tacky, aqueous suspension of a hydrocarbon po
lymer occurring naturally in some species of trees....or made syn
thetically.

• made by emulsion polymerization techniques from a range of m

onomers (styrene, butadiene, acrylates, etc).

• low in viscosity, ~ 50% water / 50% polymer, and are easy to pour
, mix and pump.

• stabilized by ionic forces of repulsion between the particles, and

also by the addition of suitable surfactants.

• Latexes may be destabilized by the following:

• Ions (especially multivalent cations Ca2+, Al3+)
• Shear (mixing, pumping)
• Freeze / Thaw
• Heat
Advantages of Latex
• Low viscosity: It is an advantage to have the polymer in a liquid state for processing by the
customer.
• Aqueous: Latex may be used directly in aqueous formulations. There is no organic solvent
to remove (flammability, toxicity, environmental etc.)
• Unique manufacturing process: Fast reaction, good heat removal due to low viscosity.
• Polymer: A wide range of polymers are available using various combinations of monomers
. eg. The dried polymer may be:
– A clear, tough, tough rubbery film, which may act as a binder in filled systems.
– A hard plastic (white powder).
– A sticky (tacky) adhesive.
S/B Latex Compositions

Compositions Function, Contribution

Styrene Hardness, strength, stiffness, good aging, high Tg polymer
Butadiene Softness, flexibility, adhesion, poor aging, low Tg polymer
Water Continuous phase for emulsion polymerization
Enhances heat removal from reaction
Surfactant Improve stability of Latex
Defoamer Control foaming tendency of latex under processing or end use
conditions
Antioxidant Increase usage lifetime of product by reducing rate of oxidation
(butadiene polymers)
pH control agent Control pH during polymerization
Adjust pH after polymerization to provide stripper stability
Adjust pH for customer specification
Biocide Control bacteria in latex which feed on organics present
Typical SCG-Dow S/B Latex properties

Solids content 47 - 54 %
Specific gravity 1.01 - 1.06
pH 5 - 10
Viscosity 50 - 600 mPa.s
Surface tension 40 - 65 dynes/cm
Styrene content of polymer 40 - 60 %
Vinyl Acid content of polymer 0-6%
Particle size 0.12 - 0.25 m
Latex Characterization
Solid content
The water and other volatile components are evaporated to determine the non-volatile (solid) co
ntent of the latex. This 'solids content' reflects the amount of 'active' polymer, additives etc. in th
e latex.
Filter residue
Latex residue is formed from the agglomeration of polymer particles. Latex is passed through a st
andard sieve, and the dried weight of latex residue per litre of latex is recorded.
Fisheye test
The fisheye test is used to measure the film forming properties of the latex for coating application
s. Film continuity may be affected by waxes or silicon based defoaming materials.
Particle size (Light scattering)
The weighted average particle size is calculated from the measured dissymmetry of light scatterin
g. The dissymmetry is the ratio of the intensity of light scattered at 45 degrees and 135 degrees.
The particle size is expressed in angstroms.
Latex Characterization
Particle size (HDC)
Hydrodynamic Chromatography (HDC) is a technique used for quantitative determination of parti
cle size and particle size distribution in latex samples. The latex particles are separated via liquid
chromatography according to their size.
Latex film properties
Allows certain predictions as to a latexes behavior and properties in end-use applications.
Latex film properties include:

Tensile strength, Elongation to break, Young's Modulus, Swell index, Gel content, MFFT, Tg, Co
mposition by FTIR.
MFFT Minimum film formation temperature
Temperature at which a latex will form a continuous film. Estimation of the MFFT is critical to ens
ure that proper processing and drying conditions are chosen for developing a latex film during en
d-use (eg. during drying on a paper machine).
Latex Characterization
Tg Glass transition temperature
The Tg is the temperature at which an amorphous (non-crystalline) material changes from a brittl
e, glassy material to a flexible, rubbery state, or vice versa.
Some end-user important properties of polymers which correlate strongly with Tg: Tensile strengt
h, % Elongation, Flexibility ("Hand"), MFFT
VOCs Volatile organic compounds
Measuring VOCs is important to ensure specifications are being met.
Determine the level of odiforous components in the latex.
Examples of VOCs that are often measured include: Styrene, 4-VCH, 4-PCH, Alkyl benzenes
Bacteria
What does bacteria do to our latex? Gives a foul odor. Causes deterioration of physical properties
. Can cause residue (coagulation).
Bacteria control: Clean storage tank, clean shipping container, fast turnover.
 THE DRYING PROCESS
STAGE I

Water evaporation: solids

50-60-70%, particles get
closer together and
viscosity increases.

STAGE II
Coalescence: solids
90-95-100%, particles
forced together and
coalesce.

STAGE III
Film: interdiffusion,
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ decrease in gas
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ permeability.
S/B Latex applications

• Paper coating
• Carpet backing
• Construction
• Can sealant
• Wood adhesive
• Etc.
Dow Latex is modified styrene butadiene latex made by emulsion polymerization fo
r variety applications such as paper coating, carpet backing, wood adhesive, can sealan
t and construction application etc.
Paper Coating:
• Used as a binder for pigmented coating of paper
and paperboard for offset printing.
• High wet and dry binding power
• Good printability
• Stiffness
• Blister resistance
• Fold crack minimization

Carpet backing:
• Used for carpet secondary backing applications,
providing excellent adhesion when either wet or
dry.
• High tuft bind
• Excellent filler acceptance
• Excellent mechanical stability
• Low odor/Low VOCs
• Contain antioxidant
 Cement & Construction:
• specifically designed for use in cement mortars.
• Improve bonding, tensile and flexural strength
• Durability
• Improved water resistance
• High chloride resistance

Can sealant:
• Used for can sealant and can seaming compoun
d. For food and beverage can packaging.
• Excellent wet and dry adhesion
• Comply with F&DA 175.300.
Paper Coating
Why is paper coated?
 To improve the optical properties (gloss, brightness, opacity)
 To increase the smoothness of the surface
 To improve the printability
 To bind the pigment particles to each other and to paper
 we say that the binder “spot-welds” the pigment particles
Coated paper prints better

Printed Uncoated Paper Printed Coated Paper

Paper Coating Compositions

Composition Function, Contribution

Pigments: Fill voids and contour on the paper, make paper surface smoother,
Calcium Carbonate & Clay more even ink absorption
Binder (Latex / Starch) Bind pigment with the paper
Dispersant Continuous phase for emulsion polymerization
Enhances heat removal from reaction
Insolubilizer Improves water resistance of the coating (wet pick) for offset
printing.
Lubricant Improves runnability, reduces dusting on calender and slitters,
sheeters in finishing.
Dye adjust colour of the coated paper
OBA Improves brightness of coated paper by adsorbing UV light and re-
Optical Brightening Agent emitting it as blue light.
Makes the paper look brighter and “whiter”
NaOH Adjust pH of coating color to range 8-9
Typical Paper Coating Formulation

• Coating normally produced in t

Formulation = Coating Color he mill in a batch process (kitch
Ingredient Parts en)
Calcium Carbonate 0 – 100
Kaolin Clay 0 - 100 • Paper can have 1, 2 or 3 layers
Plastic Pigments 0-8 of coating
Total Pigments 100
Latex Binder 5 - 25 • Dow supplies:
– Binder
Starch 4
– Hollow Plastic Pigment
Thickeners 0.2 – 1.0
– Solid Plastic Pigment
Lubricants (stearate) 0.5 – 1.0
OBA 0.2 – 1.5
Defoamers 0.1 – 0.3
Cross-linkers (UF) 0.2 – 0.5
------------------------------------------------
pH 8 - 9
Solids 50-75%
Viscosity 500-2000 mPas
Carpet Backing
 Carpet Segmentation
Carpet

Woven Tufted Needlefelt Tiles Auto Mats Synthetic Bathroom

Grass Mats Underlay

unitary Full Bath One Side Rubber Crumb /

SB/PVC/PU PU/rubber/
SB/EVA/PVAC SB TML/SB PU Foam
SB
BACKING TYPE

PVC/Bitumen Natural/Synthetic
Latex
unitary secondary Foam
SB backing HSL
SB Ecoworx

Gel No Gel

Bathroom
mats
TUFTED CARPET
CONSTRUCTION
Yarn

Primary
backing

Latex
compound
Secondary
backing
Tufted carpet latex compound

Objectives:

• Good frothability and froth stability (coat weight control)

• Good tuft lock (prevent tufts pulling out)
• Penetrate the yarn tufts to bind the individual filaments (prevent
‘pilling’ and ‘fuzzing’)
• Good secondary backing adhesion
• Prevent edge fraying when the carpet is cut for installation
• Good dimensional stability
• Add weight
• Required stiffness (‘hand’)
• By addition of other additives, contribute to ignition resistance
and conductivity
Carpet latex compound compositions

Composition Function, Contribution

Binder (S/B Latex) Bind yarns with backing, Handed feeling
Filler (CaCO3) Give bulk to the latex compound and reduce cost
Dispersing agent Offsets the forces of attraction between pigment particles.
Reduction of energy necessary to separate pigments into discrete
particles
Foaming agent Froth the compound
Foam stabilizer prevents the foam collapsing while in the foam bank
Foam stabilizer adjust colour of the coated paper
Thickener Increase the viscosity of a latex compound to prevent the filler
settling.
Prevents the compound from penetrating through to the face or
back of the carpet.
Tufted carpet compound formulation
DIRECT COAT (D/C)
TUFTED CARPET
LICK APPLICATOR
Construction
Application of LMC
Deck coverings -Bridge deck overlay
-Internal and external ship-decks
-Footbridge decks
-Rail wagons

Anticorrosive -Chemical or machinery plant floors

Linings -Septic tanks
-Parking structures
-Effluent drains

Flooring -Commercial and Industrial floors

Paving -Toilet floors, garage
-Railway platform, Road
Application of LMC
Integral -Concrete roof-decks, render wall
Waterproofing -Water tanks, Swimming pools
-Septic tanks, Silos

Repairing -Cement stucco-like coatings

materials -Cement filling compound
-Self leveling cements

Decorative -Sprayed concrete for repair of

coatings concrete structures
-Protective coatings for corroded
reinforcing bars
LMC Mix Design: 3-6 cm thick
(Parts by weight)

Component Conventional concrete LMC

Cement 1.0 1.0

Sand, 2NS (<0.5 cm) 2.6 2.6
Stone, 25N (<1.2 cm) 1.75 1.75
Latex/Cement 0 0.15
Water/Cement 0.45 0.37
Water reducer * none
Air entr. agent * none
Air content 5-8% 3-7%
* vary levels
Typical Formulation of LMC
M3

• Portland cement 400 kg

• Aggregate (0-12 mm) 1650 kg
• DL470 (46% solid) 130 kg
• Potable water 62 kg

• P/C (polymer/cement) = 0.15

• W/C (water/cement) = 0.33
 LMC Model
1. Initial Mixing
Unhydrated
Unhydrated Cement
Cement
Latex
Latex

Aggregates
Aggregates

Air
Air

2. Latex deposit on cement & aggregate

 LMC Model
3. Latex close packs around cement and aggregates,
cement partially hydrated

4. Latex film encapsulates fully hydrated cement

Benefits of DL470 to concrete
• Make concrete stronger and more durabl
e
– Improve adhesion, flexural strength and tensile
strength with no loss of compressive strength

• Impermeability
– Reduce penetration of moisture and corrosive c
hemicals

• Abrasion resistance
– High traffic area e.g. car park
Benefits of DL470 to concrete (cont’)
• Thinner overlay
– Allow less material to be place to assure
protection

• Freeze/Thaw stability
– Improve resistance to moisture penetra
tion and cracking.

• Workability
– Reduce w/c ratio, leads to higher densit
y structure
Affect of Bridge deck corrosion

• Financial Costs
• Traffic Delays
• Lost Productivity
• Increased Emission
• Auto accident
• Personal Injury
Health hazard and safe handling infor
mation
Health hazard information

• Inhalation No adverse effects are anticipated from inhalation.

• Ingestion Single dose oral toxicity is considered to be low. No
hazards anticipated from swallowing small amounts
incidental to normal handling operations.

• Skin Short single exposure is not likely to cause significant skin

irritation. Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause skin irritation.
Skin absorption is unlikely due to physical properties.

• Eye May cause slight transient (temporary) eye irritation.

Corneal injury is unlikely.
First aid measures
• Inhalation No adverse effects anticipated by this route of exposure.

• Ingestion No adverse effects anticipated by this route of exposure

incidental to proper industrial handling.

• Skin Wash off in flowing water or shower.

• Eye Irrigate immediately with water for at least 5 minutes.

• First Aid Facilities An eye wash fountain and a general washing
facility should be available to the work area.

• Other Information Never give fluids or induce vomiting if patient is

unconscious or is having convulsions.
Fire fighting measures
• Extinguishing Media
– Water fog or fine spray. Carbon dioxide. Foam. Dry chemical.

• Unusual Fire & Explosion Hazards

– Will not burn until water is evaporated.

• Flammability
– Non-combustible, non-flammable while an emulsion. Dried product will burn i
n a similar fashion to wood.

• Hazardous Combustion Products

– Upon burning, the dry product generates dense, black smoke.
Spill & Disposal
• Protect people:
– Wear adequate personal protective equipment .

• Protect environment:
– Keep out of sewers, storm drains, surface waters and soil.

• Clean-up: For small spills:

– contain and cover with sand, sawdust or absorbent material.

• Clean-up: For large spills:

– contain and recover for disposal. If entry to drains or sewers has occurred, sys
tem may plug. Flush system with large amounts of water.
Q&A

Thank you