shaker e.g. anchored to the pigment surface, and that the surface of the particles are covered with
a single functional group, or an oligomeric or polymeric chain: Studies have shown that steric stabilization chains anchored at only one
This situation is illustrated
based inks. As explained earlier,
property which benefit water based coatings: The multi-functional properties of the gemini surfactant are related
separated as achieved in the last step, and to control the degree of pigment particle
can then take place through a variety of mechanisms:
emulsions and paints, allowing to achieve prominently high disperse stability toward
Since 2004, Chemical Dynamics has specialized in many areas that have benefited hundreds of businesses worldwide. The polarity of the surface of the pigment differs from organic (non-polar)
As a contributing writer, Ron pens articles on topics relevant to formulators in the coatings industry. if too little is used then the full benefits will not be realized. a coating formulation would be in three stages: 1. of the dispersion by the electrostatic stabilization mechanism, but concerns over
Chemically speaking, the additives used for dispersion in such systems
time, they are used in combination with an anionic surfactant which provides stabilization
phenol ethoxylates (APEs) and fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEs) are one of the
will remain firmly attached. poor optical and color properties (in coatings). Possessing kinetic (thermal) energy and being subjected to Brownian movement, colloid
Chain elasticity in the dispersions stabilized with polymer surfactants. dispersants provide make them very efficient to anchor on pigments with nonpolar surfaces. When the chains are too long, they have a tendency to "fold back" on to themselves. Pastes usually are difficult to evaluate because there are so many particles jammed together. of the wetting liquid, - its viscosity, -
In case you want to optimize a Polymeric dispersant millbase, 4 stages
- energy (heat) of wetting. of polymeric dispersants. aqueous media, this conclusion is not surprising. or difficult substrate wetting. groups and two hydrophilic groups attached by a short chain coupler. Formulators have to find the most suitable products for their
After the wetting stage, it is necessary to de-aggregate
A charge is generated on the pigment surface, and a more diffuse cloud of
It is possible to dilute the paste (with the paint vehicle, not just solvent), but this must be done with great care to prevent flocculation. In multi-pigment paints, slight co-flocculation of the pigments improves color uniformity and reduces the possibility of convection flow related defects on drying or baking. However, Figure 6 provides a simplified relationship of pigment and paint parameters to pigment settling. The molecular weight of the dispersant is sufficient to provide polymer
into account when formulating a pigment solution. chains are provided by polymeric dispersants containing either single chains or up to
the time t, - is the surface tension
Flocculated pigment suspensions are characterized by the non-uniform spatial distribution
When such changes are made, it is a good idea to measure the viscosity vs shear rate behavior of the new paste and compare it to that of a control paste. dispersion stability via "potential curves" (Figure), where potential energies of attractive
As two particles approach each other the charge
charge to the particles (electrostatic stabilization). The Table below show a range of typical starting point formulations for inorganic and
Using the % AOWP of Polymeric agent (calculated above) + synergist (if required) prepare
have been developed with multi-functional properties and especially defoaming
Figure 3 : Anchoring through polarizing groups. anchoring process. appropriate for organic pigments. the application of external force, and spontaneous de-wetting will take place when the
main types of surfactant used in coating applications as wetting and dispersing
be adversely affected by the use of an excess of dispersant because of the free molecules
Alternatively one can consider that, as the chains intermingle, solvent is forced out
performance. compatible, flocculation may occur leading to reduced gloss and tinctorial strength. High viscosity causes poor mixing, a poor flow rate, poor pumping, high temperature, and packing of the media (sometimes to the point of clogging the mill). systems, the polar group is known as the oleophobic group and the non-polar group as oleophilic. Introduction-The first steps in the pigment dispersion process are wetting and separation of the pigment. The essential requirement is that the chains are successfully
Classic colloidal science explains electrostatic stabilization in terms of an electrical
particles. to disperse inorganic pigments as well as pigments with polar surfaces. to alcohol/water includes: The amount of polymeric dispersant used is also an important parameter
The polyelectrolytes adsorb onto
between pigment particles: Ideally the chains should be free to move in the dispersing medium. Stabilization increases
Pigment dispersion in aqueous media uses the same principles as inorganic solvent media: that is, proper wetting, pigment dispersion and stabilization. This will lead to an increase in viscosity and a loss
The anchoring groups can
by the reduction of the repulsive forces. utilized as polyelectrolytes in the coatings industry. amines; ammonium and quaternary ammonium groups; carboxylic, sulfonic, and phosphoric,
In other words, they not only stabilize
High quality coatings of high brilliance and color strength
facilitate liquid/solid interfacial interactions and help to replace the air/solid interface
The main reason for doing this for pastes usually is to see whether the dispersion process has reached the required end point for that pigment. Probably the most common method in labs and plants is taking readings with a grind gauge, usually the Hegman type (ASTM D1210). are ionically constructed, the adsorption of any dispersing additive is relatively easy. stabilization to be lost. close enough for the attractive van der Waals forces to cause agglomeration. an oppositely charged atom or functional group on the dispersant. Thixotropes commonly used to promote soft settling include clays treated with quaternary ammonium compounds to provide higher organophilicity for solvent born coatings. Most of the
way to solve the issue is by modifying the chemical structure of the particle itself in
Once dispersed, the primary particles have a tendency to re-agglomerate. their approachment may occur so close that even relatively short-range van der Waals forces
Pigment dispersion quality in pastes and paints may be tested by one of several different techniques. will clearly inhibit its freedom of movement, even before it starts to intermingle with
these defects, and some provide other advantages to the final paints such as defoaming/dearation
Therefore the use of an excess level of
A strong interaction may be developed
to prevent flocculation. If the chains are not sufficiently solvated, then they will
Energy is added to the system and therefore smaller particles (with a larger interface
Phosphate esters surfactants are used in waterborne coatings for
their wetting and dispersing properties and the economical alternative to other
better performance with inorganic pigments and a cationic anchor group should be more
via van der Waals interactions and without recourse to ionic, hydrogen-bonding, or polarizing
There are two principal mechanisms for the stabilization of pigmented dispersions: Stabilization of pigment suspension - Colloidal stabilization. it is essential to distinguish between organic and inorganic types). pose much more severe requirements. Mix the dispersant in the millbase solvent or in
worse rheology (structural viscosity, blob-flow), low storage stability (in paints) and
In non-aqueous
Figure 2: Anchoring by hydrogen bonding to a polymeric group. of tinctorial properties. The choice of dispersant is also related to the surface nature
liquid medium thus having a strong tendency to re-flocculate on the let down stage. polymeric dispersants very useful for dispersing all types of pigments, even the organic
It is possible to anchor a polymeric dispersant onto a pigment particle surface simply
Nonionic fatty acid derivatives such as the alkyl
Six possible arrangements are illustrated
features, a polymeric dispersant is bound to numerous sites at the same time, forming
Anchoring Mechanisms
As a general rule, 2-2.5mg of polymeric dispersant, per square
On the other
a hydrophilic group and the non-polar group as hydrophobic or lipophilic. oppositely charged ions develops around it. are therefore crucial to the additive's effectiveness: In the traditional method of stabilizing pigments in water, the stabilizing
Accordingly, they require asurfactantto wet and stabilize the dispersion. stabilization. levels of addition, but problems will be caused at higher loading. _ Interference with intercoat adhesion. Then the only
This leads to an imbalance in solvent concentration which is resisted
and deagglomerate the pigment particles. With pigments possessing high surface polarities, such as inorganic pigments that
Other dispersing additives are designed to improve the
and repulsive forces and total interaction are expressed as a function of distance between
Formulators use tint strength to test the color development of the pigment being dispersed, which depends on the degree of deagglomeration and freedom from flocculation of the paste as well as the quality of the pigment itself. Dispersing agents are not just additives to conventional
to obtain with conventional additives. In term of chemical structure one can divide dispersing agents into the two following
on the surface of the pigments and inside the agglomerates (water, oxygen, air, and/or
from between particles. Typical structure of ethoxylated acetylene diols, (Can be performed on lab. Dispersing agents generally differ for aqueous and solvent-based coatings. Those repulsive forces
However, the surface tension of water and high polarity makes it more problematic in wetting low polarity pigments. For example, a blue paint may be a lighter shade than specified. The complete wetting out of the primary sized pigments particle helps to enhance the technical
optimum amount which gives best final product. Anchoring of the polymeric dispersant to the pigment surface
It does not matter whether the previously discussed polymer
the polar groups forming an electrical double layer around the pigments particles. lower the interfacial tension between the pigment and the resin solution. However, one must be sure that there is acceptable compatibility between the thixotropic and dispersant. CoatingsTech | Vol. constant, principally water; although even in water-based coatings systems, steric stabilization,
Another reason would be to find out whether the dispersion equipment was adequate to achieve the target reading in a reasonable length of time. If foaming occurs at the milling
The efficiency of the wetting depends primarily on the comparative surface
paints and resins used in publication gravure inks and offset lithography inks are all
Similarly, paper or wooden substrates tend not to give major adhesion
obstructed, the polymer chains collapse causing the steric hindrance and the resulting
The aim of stabilization is to keep the pigment particles
to form. 3. a series of millbases with increasing pigment contents in a GRINDING MEDIUM containing
solution. This topic is discussed
This is usually accomplished by mechanical action
formulation taking into account the final application of their coating, the coating system
entropy, which is unfavorable and provides the necessary barrier to prevent further attraction. It usually is better to observe the paint made from the paste rather than the paste itself. Forced wetting processes (in non-wetting conditions) require
It is well known, that even well grinded but not stabilized, fine particle
Because of their chemical structure (eg: low molecular weight) and the electrostatic method
fragments. will be capable to joint particles irreversible, thereby destroying the dispersion. of additives, whether they are intended to be used immediately in let-down or as pigment
collapse on to the pigment surface allowing the particles to aggregate or flocculate. Polyamines and polyols are used to anchor via hydrogen bonding, either
particles is therefore a matter of life or death for any dispersion. particles persistently approach one another and collide . A paste-paint comparison is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Some organic pigments (phthalocyanine blues and dioxazine violet are good examples) are
the steric stabilization chains of an adjacent particle. shear, higher surface areas become exposed to the vehicle and larger amounts of additives
This surface activity arises because the surfactants' structure consists of two groups
Stabilization of pigment suspension - Overview. pigment particle surface, and similarly polarized or polarizable groups on the anchoring
Using the higher pigment content established in Stage 2: Carry out a series of Polymeric
I recommend a compound (conventional) optical microscope at 200500X with transmitted light and dark field. forces (hydrogen bonding and/or polarization) and van der Waals forces. are now filled with resin solution rather than air. durable adsorption layers upon many pigment particles. Surfactant molecules are able to modify the properties and, in particular, they
agents. This loss of freedom is expressed, in thermodynamic terms, as a reduction in
is critical for optimum adsorbtion. The need for compatibility with the medium extends throughout the final drying stages
If too much is used,
charges on their surfaces. Polyethers can be used to anchor via hydrogen-bond acceptance. The role of the dispersing agents is to enhance the dispersion process and ensure a fine
Inorganic pigments such as iron oxides, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, and silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate and barium sulfate and many other filler pigments have a very polar surface. However, water alone normally does not adequately wet the pigment surface. In addition to polyphosphates, many polycarboxylic acid derivatives are
Figure 1: These anchor onto the particle surface either through functional
donor or acceptor groups, such as esters, ketones, and ethers It is therefore possible
Alternatively,
of pigment contents - maintaining [agent:pigment] ratio determined in Stage 3 to determine
Surfactants are conventional low molecular weight dispersing
In many cases, water interacts aggressively with the surface of the pigment, destabilizing the dispersant on the pigment surface. This wide range of anchoring possibility enables polymeric dispersants
offers in various resin systems, including polyester, acrylic, polyurethane, alkyd and
Polyacrylic Acid structure and conversion to sodium polyacrylate. The specimens were produced by placing a small drop of pigment paste or paint on a microscope slide. barrier to prevent flocculation. electrostatic repulsion between equally charged pigments, the flocculation tendency is
particle size in order to stabilize pigments in the resin solution. of cohesion (Wk) is required: Wa> Wk. Co-flocculation with extender pigments can be particularly effective in these respects. stabilization, Replacement of air and water by the resin, Attraction/ repulsion between two particles, Potential energy curves between two particles, 30.0 (i.e: 10% active dispersant on the weight of pigment). Due
dispersing system that it provides. of organic pigment particles by the steric stabilization mechanism. chains can be utilised effectively covering the variety of solvents encountered. This leads to a destabilizing effect, caused
In the grinding stage, the cohesive forces inside the agglomerates have to be overcome. Viscosity problems may occur where there are changes in the paste formula such as raising pigment loadings (which may cause shear thickening leading to jamming of pumps and mills), changing dispersants, adding a wetting agent (likely to lower viscosity), etc. The wetting step of dispersing processes can be intensified by the use
with an optimized dosage. coating and ink industry. The surface area of the pigment also affects the level of dispersant used, and in general,
2. processing media) by the resin solution. Examples, spanning the range of solvent from nonpolar aliphatic hydrocarbons
I have seen where microscopy showed a bimodal particle size distribution (large, small) and light scattering did not. the surface of the pigment. If the chains
Settle Down: Factors that Influence Pigment Settling and Stability, Chemistry of Ambient Cure Epoxy Resins and Hardeners, A Guide to Providing Initial and Long-Lasting Coating Adhesion, Improves resistance to hard settling by increasing low shear viscosity. The two main mechanisms to obtain pigment stabilization arestericandcharge. The nature
Attapulgite clays are used in both waterborne and solvent born coatings, as the needle like clay particles associate to increase viscosity that easily breaks down under shear. polymeric dispersant based on poly(tert-butylstyrene) chains, which are solvent-soluble,
The adsorption mechanism depends on the chemical nature of the pigment and the types
Add any other additives,
additives. weak, but strong interaction may be developed with a polymeric dispersant possessing an
He also serves as a consultant for the Prospector materials search engine, advising on issues related to optimization and organization materials within the database. That situation usually causes problems such as off color, flooding and floating, Bnard cells, or rough film. There is a possibility of splashing and cavitation in the mill and settling is likely in the resultant pigment paste. their separation. There are several techniques for measuring the particle size and size distribution in pigment pastes and paints, but my favorite device is an optical microscope with a digital camera connected to a computer with image analysis software. Polyurethane anchor groups are said to operate via this mechanism. the figure below. There are other, instrument-based particle size methods such as dynamic light scattering, laser diffraction, and dynamic imaging (ASTM D8090). the pigment particles suspended in the resin solution by imparting a negative
arise when lyophilized near-particle layers interfere : the persistent exchange of the
charges used are often disturbed by impurities, such as other ions, or the presence of
Again, these interactions will often be relatively
Furthermore, film properties such as adhesion or hardness can
been cross-linked. groups (b and c) or through polymeric- blocks (a and d-f). 1, 2) will result. The steric stabilization
epoxy. agent dosages around the theoretical % AOWP (+ any synergist required) to optimize the
However, the specimen must be diluted considerably, and larger particles may be filtered out during the process. subjected to foaming, water sensitivity, intercoat adhesion and blistering. millbases. immediate contacts,a dispersion can persist indefinitely without significant changes in
Some systems are particularly
defects (e.g.. fish eyes, craters) on the final coating. stabilization is required to maintain dispersed particles in a stable non-flocculated
to their chemical type, many different chemical groups can be found as anchor groups for
dispersant actually leads to final coating properties which are inferior to those obtained
combined ionic non-ionic stabilization, which is widely used in technologies of latexes,
Although most organic pigment particles and some relatively inert inorganic particles
to its unique chemical structure (Carbon-Carbon triple bond, two symmetrical oxygen
act persistently between any neighboring particles. The polymeric block within the dispersant must simply be insoluble in the medium,
very closely onto the pigment particle surface and maximize the van der Waals attractive
steric stabilization. The following example explaining using Avecia Solsperse products (referred
many hundreds of chains. An interaction can also take place between polarized or polarizable groups on an organic
Long-oil alkyd resins for air-drying
No discussion on pigment stabilization is complete without considering the effect ofpigment settlingwith time. These factors all influence the degree of pigment settling and resistance to hard settling: A more complete discussion of the impact of each of these parameters on pigment hard settling and stability would require several articles to adequately describe. The usual way of incorporation of dispersant in
As with the polymeric dispersing agents, their effectiveness is determined
along with the thickness of this layer. To learn more about how to formulate
acid groups and their salts ; and acid sulfate and phosphate ester groups. that can be used to anchor polymeric chains to charged or acidic/basic surfaces include
Low viscosity produces poor dispersion quality and efficiency due to a lack of shearing action. In fact,
The structure
the pigment dispersion, but they also function as wetting additives. In order to meet the need for good compatibility, several different polymer
dielectric constant, so charge separation is not favored. Add the pigment, in stages, and disperse in the normal manner. Anchoring Through Solvent-Insoluble Polymer Blocks. If it ceases to be
When a pigment particle has a relatively reactive surface (eg: inorganic pigments) it
the APEs nonionic surfactants has led to the recent apparition of new product