Polymerization-induced self-assembly: Potential applications for paints and coatings

 
We have recently demonstrated that polymerisation-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a highly versatile, scalable platform technology that enables the efficient, reproducible synthesis of bespoke organic nanoparticles of controlled size, morphology and functionality in concentrated solution.1-3 In PISA, a soluble precursor 'A' block is chain-extended using a second monomer that forms an insoluble 'B' block in the chosen solvent. As this second 'B' block grows in the monomer/solvent reaction mixture, micellar nucleation occurs at some critical chain length, leading to the formation of sterically-stabilized nanoparticles. Depending on the relative volume fractions of the 'A' and 'B' blocks, the copolymer morphology can be either spheres, worms or vesicles. Moreover, the basic principles of PISA are generic: a wide range of diblock copolymer nano-objects can be readily prepared in either water, ethanol or n-alkanes. Various PISA formulations of potential interest for paints and coatings applications will be highlighted in this talk, including the rational design of new diblock copolymer nanoparticles for pigment dispersion, highly anisotropic worm-like particles as thickeners, emulsifiers and superflocculants, vesicles for microcapsulation, and multihollow particles as organic opacifiers. Finally, current techmical problems associated with the commercialisation of PISA will be briefly discussed.