CHARACTERIZATION OF ADSORBED POLYMER LAYERS USING NMR SOLVENT DIFFUSION STUDIES

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy encompasses a large rang e of techniques that can probe both the structure and dynamics of mate rials in detail. In this paper, we discuss a new method for estimating the average concentration of adsorbed polymer layers in concentrated dispersions from NMR solvent diffusion measurements. The average conce ntration of the adsorbed polymer layer modelled as a spherical block i s shown to depend on particle volume fraction, polymer molecular weigh t and adsorbed amount. Desorption has also been induced and the remova l of the layer observed through changes in the diffusional behaviour o f the solvent.