The interaction of sodium stearate with titania pigment particles from aqueous suspension has been investigated using thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy combined with electrochemical studies. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used both to determine the adsorption isotherm and to investigate the interaction behavior. Monolayer coverage is determined to be 0.95 mg/m(2); however, unlike the case with organic solvents, multilayer adsorption occurs. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, combined with TGA, revealed that the surface monolayer is chemically bound. DRIFT spectroscopic data also indicated that the stearate bridged across two aluminum atoms. Subsequent stearate layers were physisorbed to the stearate monolayer and were readily removed with acetone washing. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.