Formation of films by drying of latex

A new theory to help explain the mechanism of latex film formation is advanced. The essential features of this theory are that: (1) the major energy source for film formation is the heat of the surroundings; this heat is converted to useful (film-forming) work by evaporation of the water; the incipient and nascent film is the engine; (2) an important mechanism whereby evaporation of the water does useful work is by diffusion of water through the polymer particles themselves. The contributions of capillarity and wet sintering to the film forming process are analyzed and are found to be of greatest importance during the first half or so of the particle coalescence process. Experimental evidence supporting the above picture is presented.