Thixotropic phenomenon in flocculated aqueous dispersions of acrylate methacrylate copolymers.

Aqueous gels of two analogous, water-insoluble copolymers A and B have been formed by addition of excess water to concentrated ethanol solutions of the polymers. A and B differed only in their content of cationic groups in a ratio 2:1 (A:B). The gels were converted permanently to fluids (i.e. gel-sol transformation) at high shear rates. Stability of the resulting polymer dispersions depended on the presence and mutual repulsion of the polymer cations. Polymer B dispersions were less stable to the flocculating effect of an electrolyte (sodium chloride). At certain critical concentrations, 0.2 M NaCl (for polymer A), or 0.1 M NaCl (for polymer B) the electrolyte flocculated the otherwise stable dispersions to a gel structure. The electrolyte-flocculated gels were readily redispersed to fluids by shaking but reverted to gels on standing (thixotropic). In contrast the original coacervated gels (without electrolyte) could not be redispersed easily with manual shaking. Lower polymer-polymer interaction in the thixotropic system relates possibly to increases in particle size and irregularity of particle shape during flocculation.