Photoactive self-cleaning polymer coatings by TiO2 nanoparticle Pickering miniemulsion polymerization

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 281; pp. 209 - 217
• Main Authors: González, Edurne, Bonnefond, Audrey, Barrado, Mariano, Casado Barrasa, Aurora M., Asua, José M., Leiza, Jose R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Miniemulsion polymerization; Photocatalytic activity; Pickering stabilized latexes; Self-cleaning; TiO2 nanoparticles; Miniemulsion polymerization; Photocatalytic activity; Self-cleaning; TiO2 nanoparticles; Pickering stabilized latexes
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2015.06.074

[Display omitted] •Film-forming latex stabilized by TiO2 NPs by Pickering miniemulsion polymerization.•Increasing TiO2 content, hybrid particle size and film roughness decreases.•Films with honey-comb structure and homogeneous distribution of TiO2.•Self-cleaning activity shown by discoloration of Rhodamine B under UV irradiation. Titanium dioxide Pickering stabilized methyl methacrylate/n-butyl acrylate (MMA/BA) copolymer latexes were synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization. The particle size of the hybrid latexes was controlled by the concentration of TiO2 used as stabilizer; the larger the concentration, the smaller the particle size. The hybrid latexes formed coherent films with honey comb structures, the opacity of the films increased with the amount of TiO2. The photocatalytic activity of the hybrid films was assessed by coating concrete specimens and analyzing the capabilities to degrade Rhodamine B under UV-light exposure. The films showed excellent self-cleaning activity and it was found that the photocatalytic activity index was little affected by the concentration of TiO2 and the roughness of the film. The kinetic of the photocatalytic reaction was controlled by the diffusion of the Rhodamine B from the inner of the film to the interface.