Stripping and mechanical properties of water-based polyacrylate stripper and its application in art masking fluid

A long chain polyacrylate which was a functional composition of a new water-based stripper (WLOAC) for art masking fluid was prepared using azobisisobutyronitrile under the solution polymerization method. The WLOAC was mixed with natural latex to form an art masking fluid (WACN). The optimized preparation conditions, i.e., reaction time 4 h, reaction temperature 80 °C, and stirring rate 200 r/min were selected by the orthogonal experimental design method. The proton (1H NMR) and carbon (13C NMR) nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of polyacrylate were recorded. There were no peaks at 6.5–5.5 ppm in 1H NMR and at 128.3 ppm and 130.2 ppm in 13C NMR, which indicated that the radical polymerization was indeed occurred. The rheological properties of the WLOAC emulsions were investigated by a rheometer, and the rheology tests indicated that the WLOAC emulsion is a pseudoplastic fluid. The surface tension, peel strength, tensile strength and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of WACN were all determined. The results showed that the surface tension decreased by the addition of WLOAC. The peel strength decreased from 0.58 to 0.29 N/mm with WLOAC increased from 5 to 12.5 wt%. With the addition of WLOAC, the tensile stress increased from 10.56 to 22.36 MPa. The SEM results showed that WACN coatings could be detached without causing any damage to the paper substrate.