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

Abstract

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.