Rheological characterization of the influence of PVOH on calcite suspensions

Flow properties of the calcite/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) system were studied and related to the microstructure of the suspension. Adsorption of PVOH on calcite was confirmed, and it results in a shift of the slipping plane out from the surface. The charge density at the surface is assumed to remain unchanged. Since the PVOH used is only partially hydrolyzed, the most likely adsorption conformation consists of residual acetate groups adsorbed to the surface and vinylalcohol groups extending outward from the surface as loops and tails. The microstructure and flow properties of the calcite/PVOH system was found to go through several different stages as a function of PVOH concentration. At low PVOH concentrations a gradual weakening of the initially formed floc network is observed as a function of PVOH concentration. Further addition of PVOH eventually leads to breakdown of the flocs which results in a sterically stabilized suspension with a very low viscosity. This state persists for a narrow concentration range of PVOH, and increasing the PVOH concentration over a certain limit leads to a second gradual increase in viscosity. The system is believed not to undergo reflocculation at high PVOH concentrations as judged from the nonelastic nature of the suspensions. Instead, the polymers form a viscous matrix in the solution while the particles remain well-dispersed. At high enough PVOH concentration, the free volume available for the particles is greatly reduced, and the viscosity increases sharply.