Repulsion, polymeric surfactant adsorption, steric

Polymers are also essential for the stabilisation of nonaqueous dispersions, since in this case electrostatic stabilisation is not possible (due to the low dielectric constant of the medium). In order to understand the role of nonionic surfactants and polymers in dispersion stability, it is essential to consider the adsorption and conformation of the surfactant and macromolecule at the solid/liquid interface (this point was discussed in detail in Chapters 5 and 6). With nonionic surfactants of the alcohol ethoxylate-type (which may be represented as A-B stmctures), the hydrophobic chain B (the alkyl group) becomes adsorbed onto the hydrophobic particle or droplet surface so as to leave the strongly hydrated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chain A dangling in solution The latter provides not only the steric repulsion but also a hydrodynamic thickness 5 that is determined by the number of ethylene oxide (EO) units present. The polymeric surfactants used for steric stabilisation are mostly of the A-B-A type, with the hydrophobic B chain [e.g., poly (propylene oxide)] forming the anchor as a result of its being strongly adsorbed onto the hydrophobic particle or oil droplet The A chains consist of hydrophilic components (e.g., EO groups), and these provide the effective steric repulsion. 

In contrast, the wetting films are relatively thicker and their thickness depends on the concentration of the AB polymeric surfactant This behavior is due to the different adsorption and orientation of the polymeric surfactant molecules at the solid-liquid and liquid-air interface of the asymmetric wetting film the results suggest the formation of adsorption bUayers at the solid interface, and the steric repulsion of the loops and tails of the polymeric surfactant determined the film thickness. 

The surfactants used for the preparation of disperse systems are seldom effective in maintaining the long-term physical stabihty (absence of flocculation and/or coalescence) of the formulation. This is due to their weak and reversible adsorption and lack of the presence of a high-energy barrier that prevents flocculation as a result of van der Waals attractions. For this reason, dispersants and emulsifiers of polymeric nature that are strongly and irreversibly adsorbed at the interface are required. In addition, these polymeric dispersant provide effective repulsive forces (referred to as steric repulsion) that overcomes the van der Waals attractions. The criteria for an effective dispersant are [1, 2] ... 

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