I. Core Components & Synthesis Principle
Main Monomers
Hard monomer: Styrene (improves film hardness, hydrophobicity and printability)
Soft monomer: Butyl acrylate / Ethyl acrylate (ensures flexible and crack-free film formation)
Functional monomer: Monomers containing carboxyl / quaternary ammonium groups, which supply anionic / cationic charges and crosslink with starch and paper fibers.
Auxiliary Components
Deionized water, emulsifier, initiator, pH regulator, defoamer, biocide; high-grade products adopt nano-cellulose modification to boost flexibility.
Synthesis process: Free radical emulsion polymerization at ambient / medium temperature to produce water-based emulsion.
II. Two Main Types (Classified by Ionicity)
1. Anionic Styrene-Acrylic Surface Sizing Agent
Application: Cultural paper (offset paper, copy paper, carbonless base paper, writing paper)
Advantages: Fine film formation, greatly reduced linting and dusting, high printing clarity, low foaming, excellent compatibility with oxidized starch
Disadvantages: Unable to adsorb onto anionic paper fibers and cannot replace internal sizing agents
2. Cationic Styrene-Acrylic Surface Sizing Agent
Application: Packaging board (corrugated paper, containerboard, kraft liner, white board)
Advantages: Cationic groups adsorb paper fibers, significantly improve water resistance and ring crush strength; can partially or fully replace AKD internal sizing, no curing period, water resistance available right after paper leaving the machine
Disadvantages: Inferior compatibility with anionic starch compared with anionic type, slightly higher foaming tendency