One of the key performance properties formulators use fluorocarbon surfactants for is early hot block resistance. To address this need in architectural coatings, a study of alternative technologies was conducted and revealed that modifying a specific phosphate ester could provide a straightforward solution.

A novel polymerizable surfactant was developed and utilized to prepare latex polymers and resins through emulsion polymerizations. These polymers were then evaluated in PSA and architectural waterborne coating formulations. The results showed that the new surfactant almost fully reacted during the emulsion polymerization, and reduced or even eliminated the free surfactant migration during film formation.

Waterborne latexes are produced via emulsion polymerization, in which surfactants or emulsifiers are the key components to control latex properties. Much effort has been made to reduce the impact of surfactants on the performance of waterborne formulations. One of the promising approaches is to use polymerizable or reactive surfactants to prepare latex polymers.