Effect of copolymer dispersant structure on the properties of alumina suspensions

The effects of the molecular structure of sulfonic copolymer dispersants on the interaction with alumina particle surfaces in water and on the rheological properties of alumina suspensions are studied. Sulfonic copolymers with various contents of sulfonate groups were synthetised. The polyelectrolyte-solid surface interactions were investigated through electrokinetic properties and adsorption measurements. The optimum conditions to ensure the stability of the alumina suspension, estimated through particle size distribution and rheology behavior, were obtained for the maximum electrostatic repulsive force with the highest SO3] group fraction. Changes in the configuration of the adsorbed polymer versus the fraction of SO3- group was also discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.