In determining the effect of an adsorbed resin layer and its thickness on the dispersion of pigmented alkyd compositions, 4 factors were considered: (1) type of fatty acid modifier in the resin, (2) oil length of resin, (3) type of solvent used in the vehicle, and (4) type of pigment dispersed.Materials used included phthalic anhydride, lauric, linoleic, and oleic acids, xylene, BuOAc, MeCOEt, ground quartz SiO2, anatase TiO2, and phthalocyanine.Sp. viscosities were determined for suspensions after being dispersed for 24 hrs.The formula used was ηsp = (ηsusp - ηsoln)/ηsoln, where ηsusp is the viscosity of the suspension and ηsoln is the viscosity of the corresponding supernatant solutionThis was then used to determine the hydrodynamic volume fraction and the particle radius.The resin adsorption characteristics, measured in dilute suspensions, determined such characteristics of the paint film as adhesion, gloss, and tint retention.The adsorption is a function of solvent (resins have greatest solubility in MeCOEt), mol. weight, resin oil length, and pigment of equivalent surface area.The lower the sp. viscosity at low surface coverage, the more rapidly complete dispersion takes place.Adsorption is directly proportional to mol. weight and inversely proportional to the solvent power of the dispersion solvent.Through the ability to determine the adsorption film layer, it is hoped that a better understanding of the effect of solvent-resin-pigment on the dispersion of the polymer system will be possible.