Interactions of Surfactants with Polymers in Liquid Inks.

Interactions of acetylenic diol surfactant (Surfynol SE-F) with maleic anhydride co-polymers (SMA 1000H; SMA 3000H and SMA 1440H) and styrenated acrylic co-polymers (Joncryl 63 and Joncryl 89) have been studied using dynamic surface tension and viscosity measurements. SMA 1000H and SMA 3000H were unmodified copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride with styrene/maleic anhydride ratios of 1:1 and 3:1, respectively, while SMA 1440H was a half ester (butoxyethanol) of SMA 1000H polymer. Polymer solutions of four different concentrations were used (1; 3; 10 and 20% w/w). It was found that Surfynol SE-F surfactant interacted with styrenated maleic anhydride and acrylic co-polymers forming simple complexes and/or complex structures in the bulk that increased solution viscosity for high polymer concentrations and surfactant doses. The extent of interactions increased with increasing polymer hydrophobicity. Both hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions seem to be involved in the polymer-surfactant interactions.