Synthesis and Characterization of A‐B‐A‐Type Nonionic Dimeric Dispersants for Pigment Dispersion

Abstract

An acid‐catalyzed esterification method was employed to synthesize five A‐B‐A‐type nonionic dimeric surfactants (XOP‐3, XOP‐4, XOP‐6, XOP‐9, and XOP‐10) comprising of octyl phenyl ether (OP‐10) and a homologous series of α, ω‐dicarboxylic acids (C3, C4, C6, C9, and C10) as the spacer molecules. The various surfactants produced were characterized based on Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, mass spectra (MS), and 1H NMR spectra. The newly synthesized series of surfactants were used for the dispersion of Hostaperm Pink E (Pigment Red 122) in an ultrasonic disruptor. Based on the selected pigment, the interfacial, colloidal, and rheological properties of the pigment dispersion were examined. The dispersion performances and properties of the surfactants produced differed based on the number of carbon atoms in hydrocarbon chains of the various spacer molecules. Due to this, surfactants created with short to moderate hydrocarbon chain spacer molecules exhibited a better dispersion performance than that of surfactants created with long hydrocarbon chain spacer molecules. The calculated cross‐sectional area values of the various surfactants synthesized confirmed their differences in dispersion performance and properties.