Preparation of nanoscale carbon black dispersion using hyper-branched poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)

Abstract Hyper-branched poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (BPSMA) was used as a dispersant to disperse carbon black (CB) in aqueous media. The dispersing ability of BPSMA for CB was estimated by measuring the particle size, zeta potential, stability to temperature and centrifugal stability of BPSMA-dispersed CB dispersions. The experimental results showed that BPSMA prepared with a molar ratio of 4-vinylphenyl methanethiol (VPMT), St and MA at 6:47:47 and a mass ratio of BPO and (VPMT + St + MA) at 1:50 exhibited optimal dispersing ability when the CB dispersion was at pH 8, and a mass ratio of BPSMA and CB was about 1:5. Compared to linear poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (LPSMA), BPSMA prepared CB pigment dispersion with a smaller particle size, a more narrow particle size distribution and higher stabilities.