| Abstract: | Polymeric surfactants are usually prepared via copolymerisation of suitably substituted monomers. In this study, polymer surfactants were made by modifying a highly functionalized polymer chain back bone: a copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride, SMA (34wt.‐% MA), was turned into anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants by saponification and imidation of the MA functions. In some cases, the chains were partly hydrophobized by stearyl substituents. All surfactants were water soluble without forming hydrogels. To different degrees, they proved themselves as dispersants and thickeners. Carbon black and titanium dioxide were excellently dispersed by the ionic derivatives of SMA while latices were particularly well thickened by hydrophobized nonionic derivatives. |
