Stability of High Polymer Latexes and Their Electrokinetic Potentials

Abstract

Abstract The stability of colloid systems is a central problem of colloid chemistry. Therefore, many papers have been devoted to studies of coagulation and to the development of criteria of stability for colloid systems. For a long time a prevalent opinion was that the stability of colloidal particles could be explained by the fact that like charge on the particles prevents agglomeration of particles which collide due to Brownian motion. This opinion was first expressed by Hardy and later developed by Powis, Ellis and a number of other scientists. According to this point of view, electrokinetic potential (ζ potential) is the measure of stability. However, after detailed investigation of coagulation phenomena and accumulation of experimental data the correctness of this point of view became less obvious, and the statement that the electrokinetic potential is a criterion of stability of colloidal systems underwent vigorous criticism. The reasons for the measured values of electrokinetic potentials not always corresponding to the stability of certain systems are as follows: firstly, the exact determination of electrokinetic potential is work of great experimental difficulty which seems to some investigators insuperable. Some of these difficulties are (1) the necessity of performing the mocroelectrophoresis in a medium which has the same characteristics as the colloidal system under investigation, (2) the influence on electrophoresis of the simultaneously occurring electrolysis (3) the wash out of the boundary line between the solution and the colloidal system, and a number of others. In the case of microelectrophoresis, these difficulties are replaced by others, which are not less difficult to overcome.