DEPENDENCE OF THE ADSORPTION BEHAVIOR OF POLYVINYL-ALCOHOL AT THE POLYSTYRENE LATEX SOLUTION INTERFACE ON THE MOLECULAR-WEIGHT

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was separated by means of a column packed with chromatographic gel Sephadex G-150 into fractions of various molecular weights. The fractions were adsorbed onto polystyrene latex spheres of diameter 900 nm. The effects of molecular weight and pH value as well as the effects of calcium and cesium ions on PVA adsorption were studied. Experimental values of the adsorption magnitude at the plateau were compared with theoretical values from Scheutjens-Fleer theory. The thicknesses of adsorption layers of particular fractions of PVA were determined by means of a viscosimeter. Some parameters characterizing the polymer molecules in the solution were evaluated and compared with corresponding data concerning macromolecules present at the solid-liquid interface. © 1990.