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Abstract
An assessment was made of the effectiveness of bonding polymers from solution to dispersed solids by dispersive and non-dispersive forces. The polymers included neutral low density polyethylene (LDPE), a basic ethylene co-vinyl acetate (EVA) and an acidic chlorinated polyethylene (CPE). The solids included surface coated rutiles, an organic colorant and the chromatographic support Chromosorb.® The quality of polymer-solids bonds was estimated by eluting adsorbed polymers with p-xylene under reflux. The amount of polymer recovered was a function of acid-base forces acting at the polymer-solid interface. LDPE was recovered quantitatively, as were EVA and CPE when these were adsorbed on like (acid or base) solids but recovery was limited when significant acid-base interaction occurred. These results were relevant to the stabilization of solids dispersed in polymer solutions. Sedimentation experiments noted that the absence of acid-base interactions as well as an excess of these non-dispersive forces was detrimental to the stability of dispersions. For the specific systems under study, however, it was possible to define a preferred, intermediate range of acid-base interactions for dispersion stability. The configuration of adsorbed polymer chains was suggested to be an important consideration in this regard.