Investigation of the mechanism of polymer adsorption on a metal oxide water solution interface

The results of investigations of polymer adsorption in dispersed solid/water solutions of a polymer are presented. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polyacrylamide (PAM) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were used as polymers and TiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3 and polystyrene latex as adsorbents. All measurements were conducted with fractionated commercial polymers. Analysis of the experimental and theoretical data obtained proved that of the three kinds of structures created during macromolecule adsorption, i.e. trains, loops and tails, tails play the main role in determining the thickness of the adsorption layer.