Aspects of interactions in complex polymer coating formulations

Acid-base interaction parameters have been measured by inverse gas chromatography for mixed stationary phases of him-forming polymers and pigments. The quantities of adsorbed polymer required fully to coat the pigment surfaces were established, and rheological measurements were used to evaluate the thickness of polymer barriers generated by the adsorption process. Both the barrier thickness and the critical amount of polymer needed to overcoat the pigments were found to be dependent on acid-base interactions. Acid-base considerations also determined the rate of material redistribution when a third component was added to premixtures of two-component polymer/pigment combinations. Time-dependent variations in the surface energies of polymer films were attributed to the component redistribution process. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.