A type of silicone modified styrene-acrylate latex for weatherable coatings with improved mechanical strength and anticorrosive properties

In this study, a type of silicone modified styrene-acrylate latex (SSA) was synthesized by styrene (St), vinyl trimethoxysilane (VTMS) and isooctyl acrylate (IA) through RAFT emulsion polymerization. The molecular weight and distribution (PDI) of SSA increased with VTMS contents ranging from 0 to 4%. It also enhanced the tensile strength of SSA coatings from 3.6 to 5.8 MPa. Furthermore, SSA coatings possessed the good self-healing properties. TGA and DMA indicated the thermal stability of SSA coatings increased with the increasing of VTMS contents. It also increased the water contact angle (CA) from 85 to 105° and reduced the water absorption from 3.75 to 0.8%. The open circuit potential (Eocp)-time and anodic polarization (Tafel) curves indicated the corrosion resistance enhanced with the increase of the VTMS contents. The all obtained results indicated the SSA would have great potential as weatherable and anticorrosive coatings.