Temperature-induced gelation of concentrated silicon carbide suspensions

Due to the steric barrier provided by the adsorption of the dispersant hypermer KD1 (a polyester/polyamine condensation polymer), stable and low-viscosity suspensions of SiC, Y(2)O(3), and Al(2)O(3) powder mixtures could be prepared in methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)/ethanol (E) solvent with solids loading as high as 60 vol%. The solvency of the dispersant in MEK/E decreased dramatically on cooling. Steady shear viscosity and oscillatory measurements were performed as a function of temperature for suspensions with different solids loading. The viscosity and elastic modulus of suspension increased with decreasing temperature and became more sensitive with the increase of solids loading. The suspensions with solids loading higher than 40 vol% could be solidified with decreasing temperature, but gelation temperature and gelation stiffness decreased with decreasing solids loading. The 60 vol% solid-loaded suspension was a stable and free-flowing fluid at 20 degrees C and gradually transformed to a very highly viscous and elastic system upon cooling to about 13 degrees C. Complete solidification occurred when the temperature was decreased to 5 degrees C. The gelation mechanism was mainly based on the collapse of the adsorbed layer as the temperature decreases, which induced incipient flocculation and formed a stiff network. The gelled body was further strengthened by separation of the dispersant from the suspension.     

Tunable polymer microgel particles and their study using microscopy and real-time deformability cytometry

We report the preparation and mechanical properties of highly swellable, spherical polymer microgels synthesized by precipitation copolymerization of divinylbenzene-55 (DVB), 4-methylstyrene (4MS), and maleic anhydride (MA) at different cross-linker contents, in a range of methylethylketone (MEK) and heptane solvent mixtures. Microgels were characterized by optical and confocal microscopy, and their mechanical properties tested using real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC), a technique developed to analyze cell properties by measuring deformation under shear stress. Hydrolysis of anhydride groups gave microgels with diameters ranging from 10 to 22 μm when swollen in saline, depending on vol% MEK and cross-linker loading. Young's moduli of the microgels could be tuned from 0.8 to 10 kPa by adjusting cross-linker content and MEK/heptane solvent composition, showing an inverse relationship between the effects of vol% MEK and %DVB on microgel properties. These microgels also show strain-stiffening in response to increasing shear stresses. Extension of the RT-DC method to the study of polymer colloids thus enables high-throughput analysis of microgels with tunable mechanical characteristics.     

Dispersion of TiN in aqueous media

The dispersion of TiN powders in aqueous media was studied through XPS, zeta potential, adsorption, sedimentation, and rheology measurements. XPS showed that there are TiO2, TiN, and TiOxNy sites on the TiN particle surface. In the absence of dispersant, the isoelectric point (pH(IEP)) of the TiN particles was at pH 2.2. Based on the surface properties of TiN particles, a cationic polymer, polyethylene imine (PEI), was selected as a dispersant. In the presence of PEI, the pH(IEP) shifted from pH 2.2 to pH 11.10. It was evidenced that TiN slurries could be stabilized around pH 9.50 with 1-2 wt% PEI as dispersant. Subsequently, TiN slurries with solid content as high as 57 vol% were developed and exhibited dilatant rheological behavior at high shear rate. The results showed that PEI is an effective dispersant for TiN in aqueous media.     

Rheological behavior of organic suspensions of fluorapatite

A fluorapatite suspension prepared in the azeotrope methyl ethyl ketone-ethyl alcohol (MEK:EtOH) in the presence of the phosphoric ester was investigated. Electrical conductivity, adsorption isotherms, and sedimentation technique showed that the amount of phosphoric ester adsorbed on the fluorapatite surface was equal to, or higher than, 1 wt%. This dispersant concentration led to a good particle packing. The rheological properties of fluorapatite suspensions were studied as a function of phosphoric ester concentration. The data obtained from the viscosity measurements and those previously collected correlated well. In the case of suspensions prepared with 60 wt% in fluorapatite, the dispersion was optimal for a phosphoric ester content of about 1.3 wt%.     

Electrorheological suspensions of laponite in oil: rheometry studies

We have studied the effect of an external direct current (DC) electric field ( approximately 1 kV/mm) on the rheological properties of colloidal suspensions consisting of aggregates of laponite particles in a silicone oil. Microscopy observations show that, under application of an electric field greater than a triggering electric field Ec approximately 0.6 kV/mm, laponite aggregates assemble into chain- and/or columnlike structures in the oil. Without an applied electric field, the steady-state shear behavior of such suspensions is Newtonian-like. Under application of an electric field larger than Ec, it changes dramatically as a result of the changes in the microstructure: a significant yield stress is measured, and under continuous shear the fluid is shear-thinning. The rheological properties, in particular the dynamic and static shear stress, were studied as a function of particle volume fraction for various strengths (including null) of the applied electric field. The flow curves at constant shear rate can be scaled with respect to both the particle fraction and electric field strength onto a master curve. This scaling is consistent with simple scaling arguments. The shape of the master curve accounts for the system's complexity; it approaches a standard power-law model at high Mason numbers. Both dynamic and static yield stresses are observed to depend on the particle fraction Phi and electric field E as PhibetaEalpha, with alpha approximately 1.85 and beta approximately 1 and 1.70 for the dynamic and static yield stresses, respectively. The yield stress was also determined as the critical stress at which there occurs a bifurcation in the rheological behavior of suspensions that are submitted to a constant shear stress; a scaling law with alpha approximately 1.84 and beta approximately 1.70 was obtained. The effectiveness of the latter technique confirms that such electrorheological (ER) fluids can be studied in the framework of thixotropic fluids. The method is very reproducible; we suggest that it could be used routinely for studying ER fluids. The measured overall yield stress behavior of the suspensions may be explained in terms of standard conduction models for electrorheological systems. Interesting prospects include using such systems for guided self-assembly of clay nanoparticles.     

Stability of dispersions of colloidal alumina particles in aqueous suspensions

The colloidal stability of suspensions of alumina particles has been investigated by measuring particle size distribution, sedimentation, viscosity, and zeta potential. Alumina particles were found to be optimally dispersed at pH around 3 to 7.8 without dispersant and at pH 8.5 and beyond with dispersant. The above results corroborate zeta potential and viscosity measurement data well. The surface charge of alumina powder changed significantly with anionic polyelectrolyte (ammonium polycarboxylate, APC) and the iep shifted toward more acidic range under different dispersant conditions. It was found that the essential role played by pH and dispersant (APC) on the charge generation and shift in the isoelectric point of alumina manifests two features: (i) the stability decreases on approaching the isoelectric point from either side of pH, and (ii) the maximum instability was found at pH 9.1 for alumina only and at pH 6.8 for alumina/APC, which is close to the isoelectric points for both the system, respectively. Using the model based on the electrical double-layer theory of surfactant adsorption through shift in isoelectric points, the authors could estimate the specific free energy of interaction (7.501 kcal/mol) between particles and dispersant. The interaction energy, zeta potential, sedimentation, and viscosity results, were used to explain the colloidal stability of the suspension.     

Evaluation of Dispersant Efficiency for Aqueous Alumina Slurries by Concurrent Techniques

This article reports on results from a comparative study assessing a suitable method for dispersant efficiency evaluation in the case of water‐based suspensions of ultrafine alumina stabilized by a commonly used dispersant, Dolapix CE64. The following measurements were evaluated: zeta potential, specific surface charge, sedimentation behavior, and capillary suction time. The suitability of each of the tested techniques is discussed. A good agreement between the zeta potential and the specific surface charge as a way to determine the optimal dose of dispersant is documented.     

Effect of associating polymer on the viscosity behavior of suspensions consisting of particles with different surface properties

Associating polymers which consist of water-soluble long-chain molecules containing a small fraction of hydrophobic groups (hydrophobes) behave as flocculants in aqueous suspensions. The effects of associating polymers on the rheological behavior are studied for single suspensions of particles with hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, and their mixtures. For particles with hydrophilic surfaces, the suspensions are highly flocculated by a bridging mechanism, because the water-soluble chains adsorb onto hydrophilic surfaces. On the other hand, the particles with hydrophobic surfaces cannot be dispersed in water without polymer and the additions of a small amount of polymer are required for preparation of homogeneous suspensions. The associating polymer acts as a dispersant at low concentrations. However, further additions of polymer lead to a drastic increase in viscosity. Since the hydrophobes on one end of molecules adsorb onto hydrophobic surfaces and other hydrophobes tending from the particles can form micelles, the particles are connected by linkage of interchain associations. By mixing two suspensions of particles with hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, the viscosity is substantially reduced and the flow becomes nearly Newtonian. The associating polymer in complex suspensions acts as a binder between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. The hetero-flocculation which leads to the formation of composite particles may be responsible for the viscosity reduction of complex suspensions.     

Shear-Induced Changes in Rheological Reponses and Neutron Scattering Properties of Hydrophobic Silica Suspensions at Low Silica Concentrations

Rheological responses of hydrophobic fumed silica powders, whose surface silanol groups were modified by hexadecane, suspended in 1,4-dioxane at lower silica concentrations than 6.8 vol% have been investigated as a function of the silica concentration. Transient shear stress behavior before attaining the steady-state shear stress could be classified into three regimes as follows, irrespective of the silica concentration: at the lower shear rates than ca. 0.3 s^?1 a stress overshoot was observed, at the shear rate ranges from 0.3 to 30 s^?1 sustained oscillations in shear stresses were exhibited and these oscillations were first observed for the suspensions at the low particle concentrations, and beyond the shear rate of 30 s^?1 a sigmoid decrease of the shear stress with increasing time, that is, structural breakdown, was observed. At the steady state the silica suspensions showed shear thickening. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements of the silica suspension under shear flow provided that changes in the SANS intensities were well correlated with the shear thickening behavior. However, shear thinning behavior at higher shear rates did not cause any changes in the SANS intensities.     

Rheology of concentrated alumina-polyelectrolyte systems

Rheological properties of concentrated alumina suspensions using a charged copolymer as the dispersant have been studied. The non-Newtonian behavior of these fluids was characterized and correlated to potential measurements and sedimentation column data, obtained with these dispersions. As a result, a clear relationship between dispersion stability and pseudoplastic/dilatant rheological behavior was established.     

Effects of steric and hydrophobic forces on the rheological properties of ZrO2 suspensions

 The effect of pH on the flow behavior of ZrO₂ suspensions containing polyacrylic and octanoic acids was evaluated. In the flocculated pH regime, the flow behavior is highly shearthinning and can be described by a power-law model. The shear-thinning behavior increases with increasing degree of flocculation. Maximum shearthinning was observed at the zero zeta potential condition. Hydrophobic interaction arising from adsorbed octanoic acid was found to enhance the shear-thinning behavior. No such enhancement was observed for adsorbed polyacrylic acid. It was also illustrated that the viscosity–pH behavior is a mirror image of the yield stress–pH behavior. A quantitative particle-pair interactions model incorporating steric and hydrophobic interactions was proposed to explain the effects of polyacrylic and octanoic acids on the maximum yield stress. Received: 23 May 1997 Accepted: 4 June 1997     

Sedimentation of concentrated monodisperse colloidal suspensions: role of collective particle interaction forces

The sedimentation velocities and concentration profiles of low-charge, monodisperse hydroxylate latex particle suspensions were investigated experimentally as a function of the particle concentration to study the effects of the collective particle interactions on suspension stability. We used the Kossel diffraction technique to measure the particle concentration profile and sedimentation rate. We conducted the sedimentation experiments using three different particle sizes. Collective hydrodynamic interactions dominate the particle-particle interactions at particle concentrations up to 6.5 vol%. However, at higher particle concentrations, additional collective particle-particle interactions resulting from the self-depletion attraction cause particle aggregation inside the suspension. The collective particle-particle interaction forces play a much more important role when relatively small particles (500 nm in diameter or less) are used. We developed a theoretical model based on the statistical particle dynamics simulation method to examine the role of the collective particle interactions in concentrated suspensions in the colloidal microstructure formation and sedimentation rates. The theoretical results agree with the experimentally-measured values of the settling velocities and concentration profiles.     

A novel method for preparing and characterizing alcoholic EPD suspensions

Ceramic suspensions composed of alumina and mixtures of alumina and zirconia powders in ethyl alcohol were prepared. A solution of citric acid and triethylamine was used as dispersant. The citric acid, which usually is used as dispersant in water alumina suspensions, gave excellent results in ethyl alcohol also if it was used in conjunction with triethylamine. A novel method consisting of combined measurements of grain size, zeta potential, and transmittance was optimized to study the dispersion and stability properties of the ceramic suspensions; by using this method the optimal dispersant amount was determined. The suspensions based on alumina and alumina-zirconia powders were used to coat stainless steel plates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD); the optimal composition of suspensions and the used EPD parameters made it possible to obtain coatings with uniform thickness and composition.     

Weak flocculation of aqueous kaolin suspensions initiating by NaCMC with different molecular weights

The present work is an investigation of the effect of NaCMC with different viscosities (molecular weights) on the stability of aqueous kaolin suspensions at pH 5-6. The stabilizing effect of polymers was characterized by measuring the sedimentation volumes (for 2.5% kaolin suspensions) and some important rheological parameters (for 40% and 50% kaolin suspensions). In certain cases the stability of suspensions was also studied in the presence of 0.5-1.0% NaCl. The additives were incorporated into the suspensions separately and simultaneously, as well. In certain cases the effect of mixing order of NaCMCs was also studied. The lower viscosity NaCMC was found to be a better stabilizing agent than its medium viscosity counterpart at the studied polymer concentrations (0.005-1.0%). This was manifested in smaller sedimentation volumes and lower rheological parameters (viscosity, yield stress, degree of thixotropy and elasticity). The lower and the medium viscosity polymer were simultaneously and consecutively added in a mass ratio of 50:1 and 10:1. The resulted observation of low viscosity and yield stress, and more importantly thixotropy and elasticity, can be interpreted in terms of a “site-blocking” type flocculation.     

Rheology and UV-protecting properties of complex suspensions of titanium dioxides and zinc oxides

Ultra-fine particles of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) and zinc oxides (ZnO) are very attractive as UV-protecting ingredients in cosmetic products. The UV-scattering behavior of complex suspensions in a silicone oil is studied in relation to rheological properties. To control the dispersion stability of suspensions, three polyoxyethylene (POE)-modified silicones of branch-type, (AB)(n)-type, and ABA-type are used as dispersants. Irrespective of molecular structure, the dispersants can stabilize the TiO(2) and ZnO particles and the flow of both single suspensions is Newtonian with low viscosity. However, the Newtonian flow profiles and high dispersion states are maintained only for complex suspensions prepared with ABA-type dispersant. Since the POE groups which are incorporated between terminal silicones groups attach to the particle surfaces, the steric stabilization is responsible for low viscosity and high dispersions. Because the UV scattering of suspensions is determined by the sizes of flocculated structures, the high transmittance in the visible ranges and low transmittance in the UVA and UVB ranges can be achieved in the presence of ABA-type dispersant.     

Relation between microstructure and mechanical behavior of concentrated silica gels

We produce concentrated (40 vol%) gels of uniformly sized silica particles by an in situ process, based on the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of urea in the liquid phase of electrostatically stabilized suspensions. Two different methods are used: Either the pH of the suspensions is shifted toward the isoelectric point of the particles (delta pH method), or the ionic strength is continuously increased at constant pH (deltaI method). We compare the two kinds of gels in terms of elastic and yield behavior as well as microstructure by using rheological measurements in oscillation and high-pressure freezing in combination with cryo-SEM, respectively. Results suggest a strong increase of elastic and yield properties in concentrated particle gels with decreasing homogeneity of their microstructures.     

Preparation and electrorheological property of rare earth modified amorphous BaxSr1-xTiO3 gel electrorheological fluid

In this paper, we present a newly developed rare earth modified amorphous barium strontium titanate (Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO3) gel/silicone oil electrorheological (ER) fluid. The ER behaviors of suspensions of pure and rare earth modified amorphous Ba(x)Sr(1-x)TiO3 particles in silicone oil have been investigated under a dc electric field. The shear yield stress of the rare earth modified amorphous BaTiO3 gel/silicone oil ER fluid could reach 14.9 kPa at E=3.5 kV/mm while the leaking current density was very low, about 7.64 microA/cm2. The ER fluids with a higher volume fraction had a higher current density and a higher shear yield stress under the same electric field. The ER fluid has a long-term stability against sedimentation. The problem of caking was not serious and the agglomerated particles could be easily broken up by strongly stirring.     

Effect of tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide on rheological properties of aqueous zirconia suspensions with polyacrylate

The role of tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) in determining the rheological properties of aqueous zirconia suspensions containing polyacrylate (PANH₄) was investigated. At acidic pH, the addition of TMAH after PANH₄ could result in a much higher stability in zirconia slurries than that with only polymer as dispersant. While in alkaline media, it was more easily realized to lower yield stress of suspensions by adding TMAH before PANH₄. Moreover, the both TMAH and PANH₄ contained systems were found to need the less polyacrylate for obtaining complete dispersion than those stabilized with PANH₄ alone.     

聚合物分散剂对氟铃脲水悬浮剂流变性质的影响

采用控制应力流变仪研究了聚合物分散剂苯乙烯丙烯酸无规共聚物（MOTAS）用量、分子量及氟铃脲质量分数等对氟铃脲水悬浮剂流变性质的影响。 结果表明,以聚合物MOTAS为分散剂制备的氟铃脲水悬浮剂的流变行为符合Herschel-Bulkley模型。 在固定氟铃脲质量分数为20%时,当分散剂质量分数≤3.0%时,流动行为指数n≤1.0,悬浮体系表现为假塑性流体,当分散剂质量分数≥3.5%时,流动行为指数n≥1.0,悬浮体系具有胀塑性流体特征。 氟铃脲水悬浮剂的流变参数屈服值τH与分散剂MOTAS和氟铃脲的加入量有关。 分散剂MOTAS质量分数≤2.5%时,分散剂在氟铃脲颗粒界面吸附很少,裸露的氟铃脲颗粒界面间相互搭接,具有较大的屈服值τH;当分散剂加入质量分数为3.0%时,分散剂可在氟铃脲颗粒界面形成饱和吸附,若再增加分散剂用量,多余分散剂在悬浮的氟铃脲颗粒间形成搭接,使其屈服值τH增大。 在MOTAS分散剂的分子量在10 000~30 000范围内时,MOTAS分子量愈大,所制得的氟铃脲水悬浮剂的表观粘度和屈服值τH愈小,流变行为指数n虽略有增加,但均小于1,没有改变“剪切变稀”的假塑性特征。