Colloid chemical studies of polystyrene latices polymerized without any surface-active agents

Summary The influence of secondary minimum for the stability of spherical colloid has been studied using a series of soap-free polystyrene latices from 350 m to 1400 m in diameter.The critical flocculation concentration (c. f. c.) and the zeta-potential at the c. f. c. for each latex were determined with several salts of different ionic valencies. The values of c. f. c. varied with the particle size, reaching a maximum value at 750 m and then decreasing gradually with the diameter.Another phenomenon detected in the experiment was the complete reversibility of coagulation which was observed only in the cases of large size latices, i. e., the coagulates of large size particles were fully redispersed in the solution by stirring. The time-dependence of their sedimentation curves was reproducible.These experimental results could not be explained by the simple theoretical consideration for stability of suspension. The satisfactory explanation is given only using the term of secondary minimum of interaction potential, i. e., the origin of coagulation was shifted from the ordinary primary minimum to the shallow secondary minimum at about 750 m of the particle diameter.

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Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß des Sekundär-Minimum auf die Stabilität von Kolloiden wurde an seifenfreien Polystyrol-Latex-Suspensionen mit einem Durchmesser von 350 m bis 1400 m untersucht. Die kritische Flockungskonzentration (c. f. c.) und das Zeta-Potential bei c. f. c. wurde mit verschiedenen Salzen bestimmt.Der Wert von c. f. c. ändert sich mit der Teilchengröße.Ein weiterer wichtiger experimenteller Befund ist die vollständige Reversibilität der Flockung bei größeren Latices.Derartige Versuchsergebnisse können durch das Sekundär-Minimum befriedigend erklärt werden.

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With 7 figures in 10 details and 2 tables