In this and the next few columns, I will be covering work done to improve the water resistance of water-based emulsions by replacing conventional emulsion surfactants with surfactants that will react into the polymer matrix. I would like to thank Juliane P. Santos, Bruno S. Dário, Natália F. de Paula, Larissa C. C. de Almeida, Camila O. Guimarães, Ana Carolina Alves dos Santos, Raquel da Silva, and Fabricio G. Pereira for their experimental work that will be included.
The replacement of conventional surfactants with reactive surfactants in emulsion polymerization is a promising strategy for improving the water resistance of water-based coatings. However, the appropriate use of reactive surfactants in emulsion polymerization to balance stability and water resistance is still a challenge. Optimizations of the formulation and process variables are usually required to maximize the incorporation of reactive surfactants in the latex particles along the polymerization reaction in order to improve the water resistance of the final coatings.