Sub-micron-sized waterborne particles of crosslinked epoxy resin prepared by phase-inversion emulsification

Sub-micron waterborne dispersions of crosslinked bisphenol A epoxy resin we re prepared by a phase-inversion emulsification process in the presence of N,N-dimethylbenzylamine as the curing agent. Differential scanning calorime try was used to monitor the extent of crosslinking by post-polymerization. The time and temperature of post-polymerization influence the extent of cro sslinking. Particle size could be controlled in the range 100-300 nm with a narrow size distribution by varying the content of curing agent and polyme ric emulsifier, as investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy. A tentative physical model of the phase-inversion emulsification process in the presence of curing agent is proposed.