Dispersion of titanium dioxide pigments by alkyl polyglycoside surfactants in aqueous solution

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 1994-08, Vol.88 (1), p.67-73
• Main Authors: Smith, George A., Zulli, Allison L., Grieser, Merlin D., Counts, Mike C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Alkyl polyglycoside surfactants; Dispersant demand; Dispersions; Electric variables measurement; Electrostatics; Organic polymers; Pigments; Rheology; Solutions; Surfaces; Titanium dioxide; Viscosity; Zeta potential
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/0927-7757(94)80087-1

The interaction of APG® surfactants with TiO 2 Pigments has been characterized by a variety of different experimental techniques. Rheological measurements have been used to determine the viscosity of concentrated TiO 2 pigment slurries as a function of surfactant concentration. Adsorption experiments have been used to understand how APG® surfactants interact with the surface of the pigment on a molecular level. In addition, zeta potential measurements were performed to determine how APG® surfactants affect the electrostatic potential at the TiO 2 particle surface. Taken together, the experimental results indicate that APG® surfactants are effective dispersants for TiO 2 particles in aqueous solution. In general, the effectiveness increases with increasing alkyl chain length. APG® surfactant molecules adsorb on the particle surface by hemimicelle formation. The zeta potential of the dispersed particles shows a complex behavior as a function of adsorbed surfactant concentration.