Inhibition of Homogeneous Formation of Magnesium Hydroxide by Low-Molar-Mass Poly(acrylic acid) with Different End-Groups

The homogeneous crystallization of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH) 2 ) was carried out at 97 °C in the absence and presence of low molar mass ( M n ≤ 2000) poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) terminated with different end groups. A significant decrease in Mg(OH) 2 crystal growth was found in the presence of PAA, with relatively hydrophobic end-groups being most effective. The end-groups that were most effective were decyl isobutyrate which are more hydrophobic than the hexyl isobutyrate end-groups previously shown to be maximally effective in inhibiting calcium carbonate and calcium oxalate scaling.