Bridging of polymers

Some authors distinguish between coagulation and flocculation and use the latter term for colloid agglomeration by bridging of polymer chains. 

Formation of the bridge of polymer binder and/or surfactant between the particles Overlap of hydrogen-bonded water molecule on hydrophihc surface of a particle Negative adsorption of solute and polymer by having less affinity for the surface than the solvent... 

Cationic Polymers., The relation between zeta potential and flocculation by a polymer has been studied by Rjes (3IS), who pointed out that as soon as a colloidal particle is coated with polymer it bears the same charge as the polymer and is redispersed. Similar studies by Ries and Meyers (316) involved the use of microphoresis and electron microscope observations of model colloids and polymeric flocculants. Polyamine type flocculants appeared to extend out from the particle surface for a distance of 20-300 A. Flocculation occurs simultaneously through charge neutralization and bridging of polymer chains from particle to particle then excess polymer reverses the potential and redispersion occurs. Adsorption of poly [(1,2-dimethylvinylpyridinium) methylsulfate] on silica was similarly studied by Shyluk (317), who concluded that the polymer chains lay flat along the surface when no excess polymer was present. 

Figure 3.9 Illustrating bridging of polymer chains between colloid particles...

The complexity of polymeric systems make tire development of an analytical model to predict tlieir stmctural and dynamical properties difficult. Therefore, numerical computer simulations of polymers are widely used to bridge tire gap between tire tlieoretical concepts and the experimental results. Computer simulations can also help tire prediction of material properties and provide detailed insights into tire behaviour of polymer systems. A simulation is based on two elements a more or less detailed model of tire polymer and a related force field which allows tire calculation of tire energy and tire motion of tire system using molecular mechanisms, molecular dynamics, or Monte Carlo teclmiques 1631. 

The words basic concepts" in the title define what I mean by fundamental." This is the primary emphasis in this presentation. Practical applications of polymers are cited frequently—after all, it is these applications that make polymers such an important class of chemicals—but in overall content, the stress is on fundamental principles. Foundational" might be another way to describe this. I have not attempted to cover all aspects of polymer science, but the topics that have been discussed lay the foundstion—built on the bedrock of organic and physical chemistry—from which virtually all aspects of the subject are developed. There is an enormous literature in polymer science this book is intended to bridge the gap between the typical undergraduate background in polymers—which frequently amounts to little more than occasional relevant" examples in other courses—and the professional literature on the subject. 

Molecular weights of polymers that function as bridging agents between particles are ca 10 —10. Ionic copolymers of acrylamide are the most significant commercially (see Acrylamide POLYMERS). Cationic comonomers include (2-methacryloyloxyethyl)trimethylammonium salts, diethyl aminoethyl methacrylate [105-16-8], and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride [7398-69-8], anionic comonomers include acryUc acid [79-10-7] and its salts. Both types of polyacrylamides, but especially the anionic, can be more effective in the presence of alum (10,11). Polyetbylenimine and vinylpyridine polymers, eg, po1y(1,2-dimethy1-5-viny1pyridiniiim methyl sulfa te) [27056-62-8] are effective but are used less frequentiy. 

It was found that [5-7] the rate of flocculation of particles produced by the bridging action of polymer is the slower process and, consequently, the rate-determining step. The primary adsorption of polymer is fairly rapid, but the slow attainment of the adsorption equilibrium under agitation arises at least in part from the breakdown of floes offering new surfaces for adsorption. Thus, the bridging step is slow because a polymer adsorbed on one particle must find another particle having a free surface available to complete the bridge. 

The redox processes responsible for the switching of the bridging redox polymer can also be brought about by redox processes induced by molecular species in solution Alternatively, the switching processes can be designed so that a solution component is essential for, or mediates the redox process. The array electrode can then be used as a sensor for those solution constituents. 

The logical continuation of the stepladder strategy outlined above for minimizing the mutual distorsion of adjacent main chain phenylene units was the incorporation of the complete PPP-parent chromophore into the network of a completely planar ladder polymer. The complete flattening of the conjugated 7T-system by bridging of all the subunits should then lead to maximum conjuga-tive interaction. As with the PTHP 11 systems, alkyl or alkoxy side chains should lead to solubilization of the polymers. 

Bridging the Gap Between Atomistic and Coarse-Grained Models of Polymers Status and Perspectives... 

Recently a hierarchy of methods has been developed which covers the mapping of polymers to a mesoscopic level as well as the reintroduction of the atomistic structure [43-45]. Section 6 (Kremer, Murat, Hahn) gives some very first attempts to bridge the gap from microscopic to mesoscopic [43,44] and thereafter to the semi-macroscopic regime [45] within a simulation scheme. 

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