Latex film morphology and electrical potential pattern dependence on serum components: a scanning probe microscopy study.

Dry films formed by surfactant-stabilized, peroxide-initiated styrene-butyl acrylate latex were examined by atomic and electric force microscopy (AFM and EFM). The effects of latex serum components on the films were observed by subjecting the latex to extensive dialysis prior to film formation, and comparing the results to as-prepared latex. The films formed with the dialyzed latex are smoother (as evidenced by roughness and fractal dimension measurements) than the films from the as-prepared latex, but they display large electric force gradients between neighboring domains.