CLAY RETENTION INDUCED BY NOVEL CATIONIC MICROPARTICLES AND POLYMERS

In the present work, cationic polymer microparticles (CPM) and cationic inorganic microparticles (colloidal alumina) have been used as mineral filler flocculants or retention aids in conjunction with anionic polymers. The CPM with well-defined structures was prepared via copolymerisation of styrene with three types of cationic monomer prepared in emulsifier-free emulsion polymerisation. Dynamic flocculation experiments showed that the performance of CPM depends on the particle size and the charge density of CPM. By contrast, the cationic inorganic microparticles appear to be less sensitive to the particle size and the charge density. A strong synergetic effect between CPM and anionic polyacrylamide with low charge density was observed. This significantly reduced for effective filler retention or flocculation.