The adsorption of lignosulfonate onto a commercial, modified lead zirconate titanate (PZT-PNN) powder in aqueous suspension and its effect on particle zeta potential and suspension theology were investigated as functions of pH and lignosulfonate dosage. Langmuir analysis of the adsorption data demonstrated that a significant component of the overall driving force of adsorption at all pH values examined was specific (nonelectrostatic) bonding. Electrostatic bonding provided a significant contribution to adsorption at pH 6.0, but diminished at lower pH owing to decreased lignosulfonate ionization and at higher pH due to decreased positive surface site concentration on the PZT-PNN. The affinity of adsorption was highest Lit pH 6.0 because the electrostatic component was maximal at this pH. The zeta potential magnitude increased and the apparent viscosity decreased with increasing pH and increasing liposulfonate dosage, up to approximately monolayer coverage. The lignosulfonate dosage required for monolayer coverage decreased with increasing pH owing to increasing lignosulfonate expansion and the decrease in concentration of positive surface sites on the PZT-PNN. Suspension stabilization was considered to occur by an electrosteric mechanism. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.