Adsorption of polymers at the solution–solid interface. XIII. Adsorption and steric stabilization with styrene–2‐vinylpyridine copolymers

Abstract

AbstractRandom and block copolymers of styrene and 2‐vinylpyridine, covering the full range of composition, have been synthesized. The adsorption of these polymers from trichloroethylene solution on to precipitated silica has been studied and their ability to impart colloidal stability to the silica dispersions also investigated. Estimates of the layer thickness of adsorbed copolymers have been made. Polystyrene is not adsorbed from trichloroethylene and does not stabilize dispersions of precipitated silica. A random copolymer having 1% 2‐vinylpyridine units is adsorbed but shows very little steric stabilization. Random copolymers of 2‐vinylpyridine content greater than 10% and AB block copolymers of more than 6% 2‐vinylpyridine behave very similarly in respect both of the quantity adsorbed and in their ability to stabilize silica suspensions. Layer thickness does not seem to depend on copolymer composition. Random copolymers with low to intermediate 2‐vinylpyridine contents are better steric stabilizers in trichloroethylene than are the corresponding copolymers of methyl methacrylate with styrene: this is attributed in part to the longer sequences of adsorbable units in the vinylpyridine copolymers.