Sedimentation volume, redispersibility and appearance of a polystyrene latex suspension in the presence of nonionic surface active agents

Abstract

The sedimentation volume, redispersibility and appearance of a polystyrene latex suspension in the presence of nonionic surface active agent of polyoxyethylene glycol monoethers of n-hexadecanol have been investigated. At low concentrations of nonionic surface agents, hard caked suspensions were found. This is probably due to the attraction between the uncoated areas or the mutual adsorption of the adsorbed molecules on the bare surface of the particles in the sediment. At high concentrations of nonionic surface active agents, the redispersibility of the particles was affected by the steric repulsive force.