Formulation of Emulsion Paint from a Copolymer Composite of Dimethylol Urea/Polystyrene

Abstract

Dimethylol urea (DMU) with reduced formaldehyde emission was synthesized in this work and copolymerized by blending with polystyrene (PS) obtained by constituting waste expanded polystyrene into liquid form. The determined physical properties of the copolymer composite (i.e. DMU/PS) compared to the pure DMU revealed improvements in its disadvantageous properties such as hardness and moisture uptake. Paint samples were formulated using the pure DMU, DMU/PS and commercially obtained acrylic PVA binder resin, and analyzed. While the DMU/PS and APVA paints passed, the pure DMU failed such critical coating tests as flexibility, adhesion and blistering. Again, the DMU/PS and PVA paints show good chemical resistance while the DMU paint blisters in the alkaline medium. However, all paint samples passed tackiness, opacity and stability, and exhibit acceptable pH, viscosity, and drying time.

Keywords: Dimethylol urea, Polystyrenes, Copolymer composite, Emulsion paint