Abstract
Alkyd emulsions are currently being developed for coating applications. These paints combine the technical advantages of alkyd polymers, which give coatings of a high gloss finish, with the environmental and health benefits of solvent-free systems. Nonetheless, the drying and film formation of these systems involve several steps, none of which is well understood yet. These include creaming or sedimentation, evaporation of the continuous water phase, coalescence of the alkyd droplets, a possible phase-inversion, and the oxidative cross-linking of the alkyd polymer to form a hard coating. In this thesis. Magnetic Resonance Microscopy is used to investigate the film formation of alkyd emulsion coatings. As the process is complex, studies on a different range of emulsions and related systems are performed to gain further insight into the different steps involved. A combination of Liquid State Microscopy, diffusometry and broad line imaging (Stray Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is employed, and it is shown that this combination provides results extremely rich in information. First, a study of the cream layer and the creaming dynamics of model bulk oil-in-water emulsions containing different concentrations of thickener is presented. The experimental data are compared to the predictions of a numerical model, and evidence is gained that the presence of the thickener induces flocculation according to a depletion mechanism. Then, the water evaporation from alkyd emulsion droplets is investigated and the water concentration across the droplet is modelled according to an original model based on lateral diffusion of water. There is no evidence from spectroscopy and diffusometry for phase-inversion during the drying of alkyd emulsion coatings. Finally the cross-linking of alkyds containing driers is found to be non-uniform across the film thickness.