Colloidal Unimolecular Polymer (CUP) particles were prepared from random copolymer of methyl-methacrylate and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid by the process of water-reduction. Because of their true-nano scale size (diameter 2-9 nm) which can be controlled, easy make-up and absence of any additive such as surfactant or emulsifier; these systems are excellent contenders to study electro-viscous effects, electrokinetic behavior and the effect of surface water on the rheology and surface tension behavior. In a fairly dilute concentration regime (< 10% solids wt./wt.), the primary and tertiary electroviscous effects dominated the rheology behavior of CUPs. The primary electroviscous coefficients were calculated using Ruiz-Reina's model and fitted well as a power function of the volume fraction of the CUP particles. The experimental viscosity data fitted well with the Krieger-Dougherty model. The thickness of the bound water on the surface of CUPs was calculated and was found to increase linearly with the molecular weight of the copolymer or with the increasing size of CUP particles. In the same dilute regime, the surface tension of the CUP suspension decreased linearly with increasing concentration of CUP particles.

Electrokinetic, rheology, and surface tension behavior of colloidal unimolecular polymer (CUP) particles

246th National Meeting (2013)

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