Synthesis of Acrylic Acid-Itaconic Acid Copolymer in Aqueous Solution and Its Application in Ceramic Slurry

Acrylic acid-itaconic acid copolymers were synthesized in water. Ammonium persulfate was used as initiator and sodium hypophosphite as chain transfer agent. The influence of different reaction conditions on the clay slurry viscosity was investigated. The optimal conditions were shown as follows:the temperature was 80 ℃,0. 8% ammonium persulfate by the mass of monomer,9% sodium hypophosphite,and 0. 9% initiator. The structure of copolymer was characterized by means of FTIR.The viscosity and bending strength of the slurry and the microstructure of the fracture surface were also studied. The results show that when 0. 25% copolymer was added,the viscosity of the clay slurry was reduced from 1 998 mPa·s to 690 mPa·s and the bending strength was increased from 1. 96 MPa to2. 88 MPa.