Overview of Polymer Colloids: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications (original) (raw)

Polymer colloids represent a complex heterogeneous system, and in many ways, the preparation of these materials is still very much an art. The application areas for polymer colloids are diverse, including their use as binders in non-woven fabrics and paper coatings, in synthetic rubbers, in interior and exterior paints, in adhesives, as impact modifiers in toughened plastics, as catalytic supports, in a number of medical diagnostic areas, as rheology modifiers, and many others. Interest in this area has been spurred by environmental considerations and governmental actions to switch from solvent-based to water-borne systems as well as the large number of scientific challenges that remain. This chapter presents an overview of the preparation, characterization, and applications of polymer colloids, as well as giving an idea of some of the future directions, advances, and challenges in this growing field. A polymer colloid is usually defined as a dispersion of submicron polymer particles in a liquid (typically aqueous) medium. Research in this field has been very active for a number of years, but many scientific and practical challenges