Electrokinetic study of the interaction between styrene-butadiene latexes and cellulose fibers

Virtual Special Issue Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Bettye Washington Greene

“…Upon completion of her doctoral degree, Dr. Greene joined The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan as a research scientist focused on latex and polymer chemistry for coating applications; she was the first African American female Ph.D. chemist to work in a scientific research role at Dow Chemical. During her career at Dow, she made important technical contributions that led to several journal publications and granted patents. − These contributions include (i) advances in the in situ polymerization of surface-active agents on the surface of styrene/butadiene latexes to improve the stability of these commercially important colloidal suspensions, (ii) development of quantitative methods to determine the surface distribution of acidic groups on modified stryrene/butadiene latexes, (iii) development of a pressure-sensitive adhesive based on redispersible styrene/butadiene latexes prepared by emulsion polymerization, (iv) fundamental studies of the interactions of styrene/butadiene latexes with cellulose fibers for paper coating applications, and (v) fundamental studies on the kinetics of adsorption of a methacrylate-based synthetic polyelectrolyte at a solid–liquid interface. The fundamental and applied research conducted by Dr. Greene at both Wayne State and Dow Chemical generated knowledge that continues to impact the field of colloid and surface chemistry.…”