Comb Polymer Architecture, Ionic Strength, and Particle Size Effects on the BaTiO3 Suspension Stability

We investigate the stability of aqueous barium titanate suspensions as a function of dispersant architecture, ionic strength, counterion valency, and particle size. Both pure polyelectrolytes, poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), and comb polymer dispersants composed of a PMAA backbone with methoxy-poly(ethylene oxide) (mPEO) teeth of varying molecular weights are studied. While each dispersant imparts stability to barium titanate suspensions at low ionic strength (