INFLUENCE OF CENTRIFUGATION ON COAGULATION OF COLLOIDAL DISPERSIONS OF TEFLON~(TM)

摘要

The influence of gravity on coagulation of colloidal dispersions has scarcely been investigated. The objective of the present project was to determine how centrifugation influences coagulation of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) colloidal dispersions and any differences in the coagulated product. PTFE was chosen because it is a unique polymer used in many consumer and industrial applications. Despite being hydrophobic, PTFE remains stable in aqueous dispersions probably due to charge on the particles. PTFE dispersions are usually coagulated by some form of mechanical agitation. This phenomenon has been attributed to the PTFE particles becoming irreversibly surrounded by air, because this material is poorly wet by the liquid.