Interaction forces between particles stabilized by a hydrophobically modified inulin surfactant.

The adsorption isotherm of a hydrophobically modified inulin (INUTEC SP1) on polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles was determined. The results show a high affinity isotherm for both particles as expected for a polymeric surfactant adsorption. The interactions forces between two layers of the hydrophobically modified inulin surfactant adsorbed onto a glass sphere and plate was determined using a modified atomic force microscope (AFM) apparatus.

Interaction forces between polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide ABA copolymers adsorbed to hydrophobic surfaces.

Block and graft copolymers are frequently used as stabilizing agents in colloidal dispersions. One common material is the range of polymers known as "Pluronics," which is a BASF trade name for ABA block copolymers composed of a propylene oxide anchoring block (B block) and two ethylene oxide buoy or stabilizing blocks (A block); the equivalent ICI (Uneqima) trade name is Synperonic. In the work presented here the interactions between adsorbed layers of these materials immersed in 10(-2) M sodium sulfate solutions are presented.