autodispersive

Autodispersive is an adjective used in chemistry and materials science to describe a material or formulation that disperses into a medium with little or no external energy input. In colloids and pigment technology, autodispersive (often referred to as self-dispersing) pigments are designed so that the pigment particles deagglomerate and stay dispersed in a liquid medium, particularly water-based systems, without requiring high shear or added dispersants. The autodispersive character often arises from surface modifications: covalently bonded dispersant groups, or stable adsorbed layers that provide electrostatic and steric stabilization.

Benefits include simplified processing, reduced energy consumption, and improved stability and reproducibility of suspensions. Limitations may include compatibility with binders and media, potential impacts on rheology, and higher production costs. The term itself is not widely standardized; many sources instead use "self-dispersing" or "self-dispersing pigment."

Autodispersive concepts are closely related to dispersants, colloidal stabilization, and pigment technology. While the phrase appears in some industrial and academic contexts, it is more common to encounter "self-dispersing" or "self-dispersing pigments" in contemporary literature and product literature.