1 Structure of adsorption layers of amphiphilic copolymers on inorganic or organic particle surfaces N. Bulychev 1,2 , B. Dervaux 3 , K. Dirnberger 1 , V. Zubov 4 , F. E. Du Prez 3 , C. D. Eisenbach 1 *. 1 Institute for Polymer Chemistry, Universitaet Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D- 70569 Stuttgart, Germany 2 N.S. Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Leninsky avenue, 31, Moscow, Russia 3 Department of Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium 4 Lomonosov Moscow State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology, pr. Vernadskogo, 86, 117571, Moscow, Russia Summary The structure of adsorption layers of amphiphilic block and block-like copolymers of poly(isobornyl acrylate) (PiBA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) on the surface of hydrophilic titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and hydrophobic copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) pigments in aqueous dispersion has been studied by the electrokinetic sonic amplitude (ESA) method. The electroacoustic behaviour of the polyelectrolyte block copolymer coated particles could be described in the context of the polymer gel layer theory. The polymer layer around the particles was found to be much thinner for CuPc as compared to TiO 2 substrate. This is attributed to differences in the adsorption mechanism and the composition of the adsorption layer normal to the substrate surface. Adsorption models were established which consider effects of the copolymer structure.