Abstract

This paper was reported the synthesis and characterization of two samples of styrene – acrylic emulsion copolymers. It was performed in the presence of acrylic- acid, acryl amid, ammonium persulfate as a free radical initiator and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfate as an anionic emulsifier at 80°C. Thereafter, styrene –acrylate copolymers thus synthesized were subjected to characterization by means of IR spectral data, particle size determination. The synthesized emulsion copolymers was formulated by pigmented printing paste in the presence of an acrylic thickener in toe different concentration 3 and 5% then printed on cotton and polyester fabrics and then dried at 95°C at 2 min and then fixation at 150°C at 3 min. The characteristics of cured prints such as paste add-on, colour fastness to washing, K/S and dry/wet rubbing were evaluated, together with fabrics stiffness. The highest K/S is obtained and the fastness properties range between good and excellent for samples printed using methyl metha acrylate styrene (MMA) based, this is true irrespective of the type of printed fabric. The lowest K/S is obtained in case of using ethyl acrylate styrene (EA) as a commercial binder. The binder of 2-ethylhexylacrylate (2-EHA) gives K/S better than the binder of butyl acrylate styrene (BA) for two the types of printed fabrics.

Key words: Styrene-acrylic binders, pigment printing of cotton, polyester textile fabrics.