The influence of surfactants on latex flocculation with poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride)

Aqueous latex was flocculated by mixtures of poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride), PDADMAC, and anionic surfactants. Sodium dodecyl sulfate, (SDS), and Aerosol OT influenced flocculation whereas nonionic Tergitol NP-10 did not. The flocculation domains were correlated with properties of the polymer-surfactant complexFlocculation was never observed above the CMC of the corresponding surfactant solution without polymer or latex. At SDS concentrations greater than 10−3.6 M the flocculation boundary corresponded to the first appearance of insoluble polymer-surfactant complex which was characterized by dynamic light scattering and microelectrophoresis. Under these conditions latex (diameter 570 nm) and dispersed polymer-surfactant complex particles (diameters between 30 and 2 000 nm) displayed simultaneous homo and heteroflocculation. The boundaries of the flocculation domains at low surfactant concentration were determined by the ratio of polymer to latex and by the net electrostatic charge of the soluble polymer-surfactant complex. On the other hand, the mechanisms controlling flocculation boundaries in the dispersed polymer-surfactant domain require further clarification.