Rheological properties of ethylcellulose latex

Because of their large specific surface area, aqueous‐based pseudolatex systems of ethylcellulose can absorb large amounts of drugs. In addition, the stability of polymeric particles in biological fluids delays the release of the drug as in controlled drug delivery systems. The aim of the present study was to characterize the rheological properties of latex particles as a measure of their colloidal stability. Here, we report the effect of three variables: pH, electrolyte concentration, and temperature. The rheograms clearly show that the polymer suspensions displayed Bingham plastic behavior. Internal structuring of the latex was greatest at acid and natural pH values, particularly at the highest ionic strength. In acid solutions, only temperature appeared to play a fundamental role; both the shear stress corresponding to the onset of nonlinear viscoelasticity and the elastic modulus at all frequencies were higher at 37°C than those at room temperature. This is assumed to be a consequence of deformation of the polymer particles upon heating. The effect of ionic strength was noticeable only at the natural pH (pH ? 6.5). At high concentrations of sodium chloride, the particles aggregated because of the decrease in double layer repulsion, and as a result, the latex became structured and its elastic modulus subsequently increased. Interestingly, when the temperature was increased further, this structure presumably broke, down, at least partially, and the storage modulus was reduced. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 847–851, 2006