Surfactants as Dispersants and Stabilisation of Suspensions

Applied Surfactants Principles and Applications. Tharwat F. Tadros Copyright 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN 3-527-30629-3 

Role of Surfectants in Preparation of Solid/Liquid Dispersions 

There are two main processes for the preparation of solid/liquid dispersions. The first depends on the build-up of particles from molecular units, i.e. the so-called condensation method, which involves two main processes, nudeation and growth. Here, it is necessary first to prepare a molecular (ionic, atomic or molecular) distribution of the insoluble substances then by changing the conditions precipitation is caused, leading to the formation of nuclei that grow to the partides in question. In the second procedure, usually referred to as a dispersion process, larger lumps of the insoluble substances are subdivided by mechanical or other means into smaller units. The role of surfactants in the preparation of suspensions by these two methods will be described separately. 

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