Unique alkyl ketene dimer Pickering‐based dispersions: Preparation and application to paper sizing

ABSTRACT Herein, particle‐stabilized alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) dispersions were prepared using dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC)‐modified laponite as the stabilizer, and sodium alginate (SA) as the protective colloid. The modification of laponite particles with DTAC, which was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction technique, moderately decreases the negative zeta potential and causes the dehydration of laponite particles. Consequently, the modification of laponite promotes the absorption of laponite particles on AKD droplets/spherical particle surfaces, leading to formation of AKD dispersions with reduced particle size and enhanced uniformity when DTAC‐to‐laponite mass ratio is <1%. Meanwhile, SA significantly increases the stability of the AKD dispersions and provides stable AKD dispersions with smaller particles when SA‐to‐AKD mass ratio is <0.08%. By means of confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscope imaging and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS)/EDS mapping, the function of DTAC‐modified laponite particles in stabilization of AKD dispersions was found to include both formation of a particle barrier around AKD particles and an increase in the moving resistance of AKD particles by laponite particles with SA. AKD dispersions at a DTAC‐to‐laponite mass ratio 1.0% and SA‐to‐AKD mass ratio 0.054% provide the smallest droplet size and best sizing performance. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135 , 45730.