FORMATION AND CROSS-LINKING OF LATEX FILMS THROUGH THE REACTION OF ACETOACETOXY GROUPS WITH DIAMINES UNDER AMBIENT CONDITIONS

We investigated the processes of film formation, polymer diffusion, an d crosslinking of latex films at ambient temperature, using low T-g me thacrylate latex bearing acetoacetoxy groups, and curing the systems w ith 1,6-hexanediamine as the crosslinker. The addition of diamine indu ces floc formation, which modifies the rheological properties of the d ispersion and increases its drying rate when coated onto a substrate. The crosslinking reaction between diamine and acetoacetoxy groups occu rs at a rapid rate, even in the dispersed state. Although the crosslin king reaction precedes polymer diffusion in the two systems we examine d, latex films with relatively good solvent resistance are obtained.