Polymer colloids are usually defined as dispersions of submicron polymer particles in liquid (typically aqueous) media. A wide variety of processes are used to prepare polymer colloids. The most often utilized method is emulsion polymerization, which is the basis of a massive global industry. These materials are employed at large scale in a wide range of well-established applications such as coatings, adhesives, home and personal care along with many emerging applications including medicine, biotechnology and energy. In addition to financial value, the shift from solvent to waterborne dispersions has yielded large and measureable sustainability benefits.<br/><br/>The analytical capabilities for the characterization of colloidal particles and the polymers made by emulsion processes are essential to product development, quality control, intellectual property protection, and fundamental research. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) with on-line advanced detectors such as multi-angle light scattering (MALS), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and differential refractive index (dRI) have proven their strength in colloid particle characterization. In this presentation, we will review the principles of Field Flow Fractionation (FFF) techniques, the capability of AF4-related techniques, and will use real industrially relevant examples to demonstrate what AF4-MALS-DLS-RI can offer in terms of particle size distribution, particle quantification, particle mass, particle morphology information, and probing the interaction and stability of the particles. In addition for particle characterization, AF4-based techniques exhibit advantages over gel permeation chromatography based techniques for polymer molecular structural characterization, especially for highly branched and microgel containing emulsion polymers. Meanwhile, challenges in characterizing these colloidal systems and emulsion polymers will also be discussed to stimulate future developments in this area.

Analysis of colloidal particles and emulsion polymers with asymmetric flow field flow fractionation and related techniques

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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