This work was devoted to the study of the properties of an acrylate latex-based binder synthesised by semi-continuous emulsion polymerisation. Nanoparticles of zinc oxide (NPsZnO) in an amount of 1.5 wt.% with respect to the polymer content were added to the binder during the synthesis procedure. The binder was then homogenised with various anticorrosion pigments, fillers and additives to obtain model anticorrosion paints. In addition, model paints with expected enhanced antimicrobial resistance designed for the protection of mineral substrates were also formulated and prepared. The effects of NPsZnO on the physico-mechanical properties and on the chemical, anticorrosion and antimicrobial resistance of the paint films were examined. The properties of the paints based on the synthesised binders were also compared to those of a commercial acrylate-type binder. The results show that incorporation of NPsZnO into the latex during the synthesis provided stable polymeric dispersions exhibiting physico-chemical, mechanical and anticorrosion properties that were superior to those of a blank binder (containing no nanoparticles) as well as to the commercial binder. It was also demonstrated that the binder with NPsZnO provided anticorrosion paints that are usable as coatings for environments with a moderate corrosion burden as well as paints for interior applications with reduced biocide contents.

The requirements put on coating materials are more and more stringent mainly in the environmental domain, especially as regards VOC emissions. This is why water-based binders as alternatives to solvent-based binders, to provide paints possessing equally good use properties, are intensively sought. The objective of this work was to assess the anticorrosion and chemical properties of paint films based on new self-cross-linking acrylic latexes. The latexes were synthesized via two--step emulsion polymerisation to obtain a core-shell system. Nanostructural ZnO in an amount of 1.5 wt. % was added to the system during the latex binder synthesis. Paints with an enhanced corrosion resistance and chemical resistance of the films were prepared. The binders prepared were pigmented with anticorrosion pigments and their properties were compared to those of commercial water-based dispersions with either identical or different paint film formation mechanisms. The results gave evidence that if a well-selected pigment is used, the binders can be used to obtain anticorrosion coating materials for metallic substrates.