The coating industry has been interested in incorporating
water-soluble
polymers into latex formulations to promote coalescence and enhance
the mechanical properties of the coating without using any volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). In this study, we investigate the effects
of blending an acid-rich oligomer (ARO1), which contains sufficient
−COOH groups to dissolve in water upon full neutralization
with ammonia, into latex dispersions. We carried out fluorescence
resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements to examine the polymer
diffusion and molecular mixing of ARO1–latex dispersions and
the resulting films. The results show that ARO1 and latex polymers
are partially miscible but not completely mixed in the film, suggesting
that differences in the physicochemical properties of the two components
influence their compatibility and interdiffusion behavior. ARO1 acts
as a retardant to coalescence in the films, reducing polymer diffusion
rates and thereby affecting film formation. Atomic force microscopy
(AFM) mechanical mapping and confocal microscopy further elucidate
the complex interplay between blend composition and film structure,
demonstrating that ARO1 enhances the mechanical properties at the
film surface and promotes macroscopic phase separation at higher concentrations.
Our findings show that ARO1 significantly impacts the structural arrangement
within these films, forming interstitial membranes between latex nanoparticle
cells or phase-separated domains. These insights improve our understanding
of the role of ARO1 in modulating latex membrane microstructure and
properties, paving the way for the rational design of colloidal films
for diverse applications.