ROLE OF POLYMERS IN THE STABILIZATION OF DISPERSE SYSTEMS.

Abstract

Nonionic polymers can impart stability to a colloidal dispersion in at least two different ways, by steric stabilization and depletion stabilization. There are at least three advantages that steric stabilization possesses over electrostatic stabilization: Its relative insensitivity to high concentrations of electrolytes; the fact that high solids dispersions display relatively low viscosities; and it is equally effective in both aqueous and nonaqueous dispersion media.