ABSTRACT
The two approaches to studying polymeric stabilization are to either measure properties of robust polymerically stabilizing layers, or to take dispersions to the brink of instability to determine the factors which induce flocculation. Both of these approaches have received significant theoretical and experimental treahnent in the literature [1-4]. Investigations of forces between polymer coated surfaces have primarily used SFA or AFM, while measurements of instability in dilute polymerically stabilized dispersions are usually performed using light scattering techniques. In order to understand polymeric stabilization, these studies have typically focused on the repulsive "steric" interaction between polymer adsorbed to particles or surfaces. Several investigations have also probed the attraction due to unfavorable mixing between adsorbed polymer layers in contact for poor solvent conditions.
