Modification of dispersed systems by polymers under mechanical treatment

The processes of surface modification in aqueous dispersions of hydrophilic inorganic pigments (titanium dioxide, ferrous oxide) as well as hydrophobic organic pigments (copper phthalocyanine and carbon black) by polymers of various nature were reviewed. The pigment surface modification by these polymers was achieved by conventional adsorption as well as by mechanical (ultrasonic and vibrowave) treatment of the pigment dispersion. The efficiency of the pigment surface coating was followed by the IR-analysis, Electrokinetic Sonic Amplitude (ESA) method and transmission electronic microscopy that enabled to gain quantitative data about the thickness and structure of polymer adsorption layers. Ultrasonic and vibrowave techniques have been shown to provide significant improvement of polymer adsorption layer thickness and to be a promising way for the surface modification of pigments with regard to their dispersion stability. Thermo-responsive («smart») polymers were shown to be effective temperature-controlled modifiers for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic pigment