The influence of structure parameters and property of surface-active agents on stability of water dispersions of PVC plastisol

Abstract

This work presents the results of research aimed at characterizing the properties of water solutions of surface-active agents of the anion and non-ion type, which were used to oxyethylate the derivatives of alcohols, fatty acids, nonylphenols, fatty amines and ethanolamides as well as those of sulfosuccinate, sulfonated fatty alcohols and alkylbenzenesulfonate. The above-mentioned surface-active agents were used as stabilizers of water dispersions of PVC plastisol. Sedimentation, viscometrical and tensiometrical tests were executed. On their basis the following dependences were established between dispergation yield, limiting viscosity number, Huggins interaction constant, surface tension of water solution of a surface-active agent which was used to cause dispersion as well as surface tension of a stable form of dispersion of PVC plastisol and the quantity and kind of a surface-active agent used to stabilize the disperse system. The acquired dependences describing the stable dispersions of PVC plastisol were linked to the properties of the surface-active agents used in the tests. In a mathematical way, by means of equations the aforementioned dependences were specified. Parameters that specify the properties of surface-active agents solutions are the following: the influence of the ethoxylation number, Hildebrand solubility parameter, hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB), critical concentration of micelles creation ( C CMC), surface activity ( G), limiting viscosity number (GLL spc), Haller interaction constant ( k), limiting equivalent conductivity ( λ 0), Kohlrausch–Onsager‘s equation constant (b). The above parameters were related to dispergation yield of PVC plastisol in water, the surface tension of a stable part of water dispersion of PVC plastisol, limiting viscosity number which defines the size of PVC plastisol particles in a stable disperse phase and Huggins constant which defines the intensity of interactions between the surface of PVC plastisol particle with water phase.