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Influence of added surfactant on particle flocculation in waterborne polymer–particle systems

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Abstract

Polymer–particle interactions can cause particle flocculation and phase separation problems in waterborne coatings. The problems can be the result of interactions that are either too weak or too strong. It is known by empirical work that addition of surfactants can minimize these problems. In this study, the authors have investigated how different types of surfactants influence the polymer–particle interactions. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles were included in the study, and nonionic, anionic, and cationic surfactants were used. A simple model is suggested that can be used to predict the surfactant concentration needed to stabilize the system. The model considers the cmc (critical micelle concentration) of the surfactant, the adsorption to the polymer, and the adsorption to the particles.

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Abbreviations

cmc:

critical micelle concentration

EHEC:

ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose

HM-EHEC:

hydrophobically modified EHEC

DSethyl :

average degree of substitution of ethyl groups per anhydroglucose unit

MSEO :

average molar substitution of ethylene oxide per anhydroglucose unit

MShydrophobe :

average molar substitution of nonyl phenol groups per anhydroglucose unit

M w :

weight-average molecular weight

M n :

number-average molecular weight

PSL:

polystyrene latex particles with a mean diameter of 350 nm

silica:

silica particles with a mean diameter of 10 nm

T cp :

cloud-point temperature

T c :

critical temperature where the aqueous polymer–particle system phase separates

η* :

complex viscosity

c s :

surfactant concentration

c hydrophobe :

concentration of nonyl phenol groups attached to EHEC

c s,i :

total surfactant concentration where phase inversion occurs

c sf :

concentration of free surfactant

c sf,i :

concentration of free surfactant at phase inversion

c sb :

concentration of surfactant bound to the polymer

c sb,i :

concentration of surfactant bound to the polymer at phase inversion

c sa :

concentration of surfactant adsorbed onto particle surface

c sa,i :

concentration of surfactant adsorbed onto particle surface at phase inversion

c p :

total concentration of polymer

c particles :

total concentration of particles (g/L)

A sp :

specific area of the particles

A s :

area covered by one mole of surfactants at full surface coverage

b i :

the number of bound surfactant molecules per polymer molecule

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals AB, Stenungsund, 444 85, Sweden

    L. Karlson

  2. Physical Chemistry 1, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    M. Olsson, G. Boström & L. Piculell

Authors
  1. L. Karlson
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  2. M. Olsson
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  3. G. Boström
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  4. L. Piculell
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Correspondence to L. Karlson.

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Karlson, L., Olsson, M., Boström, G. et al. Influence of added surfactant on particle flocculation in waterborne polymer–particle systems. J Coat Technol Res 5, 447–454 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-008-9094-8

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