Abstract
Some strong electrolyte was added into the solution of partially caustic-hydrolyzed poly (ethyl acrylate) and the sedimentation of cellulose fibers was investigated.
The viscosity of the solution was found to decrease and the sedimentation rate of the fibers increase. The influence of the presence of electrolyte appears evident with the amounts of carboxylate groups in the polymer molecule.
Deflocculation capability of polyelectrolyte is discussed from a standpoint of molecular functionality and configuration from these results.
It is considered that by adding other electrolytes into the polyelectrolyte solution the molecular shape is changed and diminishes the viscosity, that the change of molecular shape affects the relative proportion of the function of ionic part to that of nonionic part to change the adsorption properties of the polymer molecule to fiber surfaces, and then change the sedimentation rate of the fibers.
For using the polyelectrolyte as the dispersing agent of fibers, the necessity of avoiding the presence of other elecrolytes in the solution is also discussed.
