Polymeric systems often contain fillers to modify the properties of the polymeric systems in a desired way, such as tuning the rheology. It is however key that the systems remain thermodynamically stable. Addition of polymers to particle dispersions however modulates the interactions between the colloidal particles and may lead to aggregation. We briefly review the effects of positive (adhesion of polymers to the particles) and negative (polymers are repelled from the surfaces) adsorption. The resulting effective particle–polymer interactions sensitively affect the phase behavior. We present a theoretical framework to predict the phase behavior of these mixtures for varying affinities between the particles and the polymer chains. For certain conditions, polymers are neither negatively nor positively adsorbed: the polymer concentration then is essentially constant up to the particle surface, a condition which we term neutral adsorption. Near this condition, the calculated phase diagrams reveal a stable–unstable–restabilization. Similar effects have been reported experimentally. Understanding how to achieve neutral adsorption opens up the possibility of preparing highly dense, yet stable, colloid–polymer mixtures.

Polymer-filler systems: Influence of polymer adsorption and depletion on stability

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.