High-throughput screening of polymeric dispersants to accelerate the development of stable pigment dispersions

An approach for the high-throughput preparation and characterisation of aqueous polymer pigment dispersions is described and evaluated. Co- and ter-polymers of methacrylic acid and methacrylate esters were synthesised, neutralised with 2-amino-2-methyl-propan-1-ol and formulated with carbon black to give an aqueous pigment dispersion and screened with respect to colloid stability. All stages were undertaken using parallel methodology with the formulation and screening performed in a 96-well micro-titre plate format. The condition of the dispersion arrays could be assessed through optical density analysis using a flatbed scanner and digital image.