Preparation and stability of novel polymer colloids in a range of simple liquids

Abstract

This paper describes the preparation and properties of sterically stabilised polymer latex dispersions in the lower liquid alkanes down to ethane, and in liquid xenon. They exhibit both upper and lower flocculation temperatures which for small latex particles and thick adsorbed layers correlate closely with the bulk phase properties of the stabilising polymer in the same liquid. The thermal range of stability of dispersions of larger particles with a thinner adsorbed layer is considerably reduced. These results are interpreted in terms of the temperature dependence of the dispersion force attraction and the change in adsorbed layer thickness as the θ-temperature of the polymer is approached; the effect of particle size is accounted for by the dependence of attractive potential on particle size.