HIGHLY BRANCHED CATIONIC POLYELECTROLYTES - FILLER FLOCCULATION

Highly branched cationic polyacrylamides of low molecular weight and l ow cationic charge density were investigated for flocculation of groun d calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide particles. They were compared with conventional linear polyelectrolytes with special attention on t he effect of polymer concentration and shear condition. Also examined was the microparticle addition effect on filler flocculation. The high ly branched polymers produced small flocs with great shear resistance. Results show that adding microparticulate silica could further increa se the floc size.