RHEOLOCY OF AQUEOUS DISPERSIONS OF ALUMINA,TITANIA AND MIXTURE OF ALUMINA AND TITANIA POWDERS

The electrophoretic mobility and rheology of alumina, titania and alumina / titania powder mixtures ( ratio of alumina : titania 1 : 2 and 2 : 1 ) were investigated in aqueous suspensions in the pH range 3 - 10. The results suggest that the electrophoretic mobility of the individual powders is independent of the particle concentration, but the electrokinetic behavior of the powder mixture depends upon the concentration of the individual constituents. The rheology of all the suspensions is charge related and while alumina and alumina / titania ( ratio 2 : 1 ) flocculate at pH 9.0 both titania and alumina / titania ( ratio 1 : 2 ) form low viscous dispersions. Similarly while later dispersions flocculate at pH 5.6, the former dispersions behave as Newtonian type fluids. Better correlation between the slip rheology and the electrokinetic behavior of suspensions containing both alumina and titania powders can be obtained provided the experimental results are evaluated based upon the total surface area of the individual powders but not the particle concentration.     

Coating of oxide powders with alkoxide derived zirconia

Coating of alumina powders with tetragonal zirconia grains in the nanometric size range was obtained from a modified zirconium n-propoxide sol.Powder sedimentation observations and washing experiments were performed to show modifications of particles surface. Amorphous precursor film formation and crystalline zirconia coating were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Crystallographic relationships between zirconia and alumina particles were also observed.     

Time-resolved studies of water dynamics and proton transfer at the alumina-air interface

The present study aims to understand the dynamical properties of water and OH groups layered on an alumina surface mainly by means of femtosecond IR-pump IR-probe transient absorption spectroscopy. The experimental results obtained demonstrate the existence of several kinds of O-H vibrators on the surface of alumina membranes, distinguishing them by their behavior on the femtosecond time scale and by the anisotropy of their spectral response. In the high-frequency region (>3400 cm-1), the absorption is due to well-packed aluminol groups and to physisorbed water patches on the surface. When pumping at 3200 cm-1, physisorbed water hydrogen-bonded to AlOH2+ groups is observed. The anisotropy measurements demonstrate the existence of an efficient energy-transfer mechanism among the water molecules characterized by a time constant of 400 +/- 100 fs. The persisting anisotropy at long times, especially in the case of AlOH groups and of the structured physisorbed water layer on top of them, proves the anisotropic structuring induced by the surface. The excitation at 3000 cm-1 enables the detection of a photon-induced proton-transfer reaction. The proton back-transfer reaction time constant is 350 +/- 50 fs. From anisotropy measurements, we estimate the proton hopping time to be 900 +/- 100 fs in a locally extended water network lying on the surface.     

NiO在USY分子筛、γ-Al2O3及其混合载体上的NO吸附行为和分布规律

运用红外技术和高斯函数对红外谱图进行分峰拟合,研究了对ＮｉＯ在ＵＳＹ分子筛、γ－Ａｌ２Ｏ３和混合载体上的对ＮＯ吸附规律,并推断出不同ＮｉＯ含量时,Ｎｉ２＋在这些载体上的分布．结果表明：位于γ－Ａｌ２Ｏ３表面、ＵＳＹ分子筛ＳⅡ、ＳⅠ位和ＳⅡ位的Ｎｉ２＋离子吸附ＮＯ时,它们的吸附频率分别为１８５５～１８７５、１９００和１９０５ｃｍ－１．ＮｉＯ在γ－Ａｌ２Ｏ３的体相和表面间存在分布平衡,约有７５％ＮｉＯ存在于γ－Ａｌ２Ｏ３体相中．在ＵＳＹ分子筛上,Ｎｉ２＋分布于分子筛ＳⅠ位的趋势远大于ＳⅡ和ＳⅡ、ＳⅠ位．增加ＮｉＯ含量将增强这种趋势．在混合载体上,Ｎｉ２＋分布于Ａｌ２Ｏ３表面的能力大于分布于分子筛的ＳⅡ和ＳⅡ、ＳⅠ位,增加ＮｉＯ量,分布于γ－Ａｌ２Ｏ３表面及ＵＳＹ分子筛ＳⅡ位的Ｎｉ２＋量显著增加,而分布于分子筛ＳⅡ、ＳⅠ位的Ｎｉ２＋量受其影响较小     

Nano-alumina by gel combustion, its thermal characterization and slurry-based coating on stainless steel surface

Gel combustion method was used to prepare nano-alumina from aluminum nitrate and stoichiometric amount of glycine as fuel. The TG–DTA pattern of the as-prepared powder (combustion product) exhibited exotherms with peaks around 500 and 900 °C accompanied with loss of weight of 25 and 5 % attributed to burning away of carbon left behind and decomposition of residual reaction intermediates left behind, respectively. Even though mass stability is attained above 900 °C, the DTA exhibited an exotherm around 1,150 °C attributed to transformation of gamma to alpha form of alumina. The XRD studies revealed that the powder heated to 900 °C was chemically pure nano-crystalline alumina while that heated above 1,150 °C was crystalline alpha form. As nano-crystalline powders are sinter-active, the nano-crystalline alumina formed by calcination at 900 °C was used to form the coating. A morphological feature of the agglomerates of nano-alumina powders were evaluated using SEM. The powder was de-agglomerated by wet grinding method. The dispersion conditions to form slurry using 900 °C calcined powder for slurry-based coating was optimized using zeta-potential studies, and it was found to exhibit a maximum value of ?45 mV at a pH of 9. After 8 h of grinding, the median agglomerate size reduced to 2 μm. Rheological studies exhibited desired pseudoplastic behavior in the range of 10–20 vol.% of solid while the slurry with 15 vol.% only form crack free, dense, and adherent coating after heat treatment at 1,150 °C. The morphology of the coating was found to be uniform and dense.     

Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction analysis of zeolite NaA membranes on porous alumina tubes.

Zeolite NaA-type membranes hydrothermally synthesized on porous alumina tubes, for dehydration process, were characterized by grazing incidence 2 theta scan X-ray diffraction analysis (GIXRD). The fine structure of the membrane was studied fractionally for surface layer and for materials embedded in the porous alumina tube. The thickness of the surface layer on the porous alumina tube in the membranes used in this study was approximately 2-3 microm as determined from transmission electron microscopy with focused ion beam thin-layer specimen preparation technique (FIB-TEM). To discuss the effects of the membrane surface morphology on the GIXRD measurements, CaA-type membrane prepared by ion exchange from the NaA-type membrane and surface-damaged NaA-type membrane prepared by water leaching were also studied. For the original NaA-type membrane, 2 theta scan GIXRD patterns could be clearly measured at X-ray incidence angles (alpha) ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 deg in increments of 0.1 deg. The surface layers of the 2 - 3 microm on the porous alumina tube correspond to the alpha values up to ca. 0.2 deg. For the CaA-type and the surface-damaged NaA-type membranes, however, diffraction patterns from the surface layer could not be successfully detected and the others were somewhat broad. For all the three samples, diffraction intensities of both zeolite and alumina increased with depth (X-ray incidence angle, alpha) in the porous alumina tube region. The depth profile analysis of the membranes based on the GIXRD first revealed that amount of zeolite crystal embedded in the porous alumina tube is much larger than that in the surface layer. Thus, the 2 theta scan GIXRD is a useful method to study zeolite crystal growth mechanism around (both inside and outside) the porous alumina support during hydrothermal synthesis and to study water permeation behavior in the dehydration process.     

Effect of alumina incorporation on restricting grain growth of nanocrystalline tin(IV) oxide

In this project, nanocrystalline SnO₂ powders were successfully prepared by (a) citrate sol-gel and (b) direct precipitation methods. Powders were characterized using thermal analysis techniques (DTA-TG-DSC), X-ray powder Diffraction (XRD), surface area (BET) and electrical conductivity measurements. XRD patterns showed the presence of the cassiterite structure. SnO₂ particles, prepared through sol-gel method exhibit crystallite sizes in the range from 3.1 to 22.3 nm when the gel is heat treated at different temperatures up to 900°C. SnO₂ nanocrystallites prepared by the precipitation method are comparatively larger in size. The higher specific surface area was obtained for the powder prepared using sol-gel method and the obtained average grain size (d) is relatively large compared with that of the average crystallite size. The powders show a semiconducting behavior with increasing temperature. The higher conductivity obtained for SnO₂ prepared by sol-gel method can be attributed to their smaller average crystallite size. XRD of alumina doped powder exhibits finer particles than pure SnO₂. TEM images showed that the particles are spherical in shape and consist of a core of SnO₂ surrounded by a coating of alumina. The calculated surface area was found to decrease with temperature increases. Due to the effective role of Al₂O₃ additive as a grain growth inhibitor for the matrix grains, the observed surface area for the coated materials are predominantly higher than for the uncoated materials.      

Dispersion of Colloidal Alumina using a Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant

Dispersability of colloidal alumina in water has been studied using a rhamnolipid containing biosurfactant. Zeta potential measurements revealed that the surface charge of alumina was altered due to adsorption of the biosurfactant and the iso‐electric‐point of alumina shifted from pH 9 to 6.3. Sedimentation tests indicated that the alumina suspension was completely dispersed for 3–5 hours in the presence of biosurfactant after which some settling was observed. Stability of the suspension in the time period studied was found to be independent of pH. Capillary suction time measurements showed that the alumina suspension was dispersed in the presence of the biosurfactant and varied with pH. Maximum dispersion is obtained in the pH range of 3.5–5 and 7–11 while a minimum is obtained around pH 6. This behavior is consistent with the changes in zeta potential in the presence of the biosurfactant and thus capillary suction time measurements appeared to be more reliable than the sedimentation tests. Optimization studies showed that about 60 mg/g of biosurfactant was necessary for best dispersion and dispersion could be done up to 40% solids. The application of a natural biosurfactant for dispersing colloidal alumina has been demonstrated.     

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.     

Interface modification and characterization of silicon carbide platelets coated with alumina particles

A colloidal-chemistry-based technique was developed for interface modification of silicon carbide platelets (SiCp) by coating with alumina particles. The coating process utilizes electrostatic and/or electrosteric interactions between the particles to promote heterocoagulation. Since an understanding of the chemical interface between the SiCp and alumina is important for improving the coating process, the powders were characterized by the measurement of the electrokinetic sonic amplitude (ESA). The major factors studied were particle size, type of alumina, presence of polyacrylate surfactant, and concentration of alumina in the coating slip. The surface coverage and morphology of the alumina coating on SiCp was determined quantitatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that around pH 5.8, the surface charge difference between SiCp and alumina was the largest and the coating of alumina on SiCp was feasible. The SEM data showed that surface coverage was uniform, and the highest surface coverage on SiCp was 66% when the surface area ratio of alumina to SiCp was 250% in the suspension. No significant improvement of the coating rate was observed by the addition of a polyacrylate for dispersion of SiCp. The concentration of alumina in the slip exhibited a strong influence on the amount of surface coverage on SiCp.     

锆-铝复合氧化物固定相的制备、表征及其色谱性能考察

利用溶胶-凝胶技术制备了无机杂化材料锆铝复合氧化物,对其物理化学性能进行了研究。平均孔径5-8nm,并且孔径分布较窄;表面呈现酸碱两性;氧化铝的掺杂可以提高填料的经表面积。同时以酸性、碱性和中性化合物为溶质,对锆铝填料的正相色谱性能和烷基膦酸改性的锆铝填料的反相色谱性能进行了系统评价,研究结果表明,锆铝填料适合于碱性化合物分离,并且其分离选择性在一定程度上随流动相性质而变;烷基膦酸改性的锆铝填料则呈现出反相色谱特征。     

氧化铝基表层ZrO2的相结构、孔结构及性能研究

近年来，双组份氧化物的性质和作用越来越受到人们的重视，国内外学者对TIOZ／A1203，Ceo。／AI。oa＊，MgO／AI。osRI等作了大量的研究．Zro。既可以做工业催化剂的载体，又可作添加剂或活性组份，它具有酸、碱、氧化和还原四种化学性质，在一氧化碳加氢合成甲醇中更具有重要作用·本文通过改变在7－AI。O3表面上Zro：负载量，研究了Zro。－AI。Oa体系的相结构及孔结构，并以CO氧化为模型反应，结合TPD－MS等实验技术研究并考察了添加Zroz对Alzoa基催化氧化及表面氧性能的影响，探讨Zroz的助催化作用·1实验部分（1）实验样…     

Surface chemical studies on the competitive adsorption of poly(ethylene glycol) and ammonium poly(methacrylate) onto alumina

The adsorption of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and ammonium poly(methacrylate) (APMA) onto alumina has been examined both individually and in combination. The adsorption density of APMA was found to be higher than that of PEG onto alumina. The adsorption isotherms of PEG and APMA for alumina exhibited a Langmuirian behavior. The adsorption density of PEG was significantly reduced in the presence of APMA, but the reverse was not true. About 60% desorption of PEG from alumina was achieved, while in the case of APMA the amount desorbed was only 10% in the pH range of 3-6. The zeta potential values of alumina were decreased and the isoelectric point (i.e.p.) values were shifted toward acidic pH values, proportional to the concentration of APMA added. However, such changes in the electrokinetic behavior were not observed by the addition of PEG. The dispersion behavior of alumina in the combined presence of PEG and APMA essentially followed the trends obtained for the alumina-APMA system, corroborating the electrokinetic measurements. Coprecipitation tests confirmed complexation between aluminum species and APMA in the bulk solution, but not with PEG. The interaction between alumina and PEG is primarily governed by hydrogen-bonding forces, while both hydrogen bonding and chemical interaction are involved in the case of the alumina-APMA system. FTIR spectroscopic studies provided evidence in support of the interaction mechanisms proposed.     

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.     

CeO2掺杂的Mn/Al催化剂的物化、表面及催化性能

Pure and CeO2-doped Mn/Al mixed oxides were prepared by the wet impregnation method using finely powdered alumina, manganese, and cerium nitrates. The physicochemical, surface, and catalytic properties of the thermally treated solids (at 500, 800, and 900 ℃) were investigated using XRD, nitrogen adsorption at -196 ℃, and hydrogen peroxide decomposition in an aqueous solution at 30 - 50 ℃. The Mn oxidation state changed from Mn4 to Mn2 on increasing the calcination temperature. There were two unique features associated with CeO2 that are of interest. The first was that it favored the dispersion of manganese oxides deposited on the γ-Al2O3 catalyst calcined at 500 ℃. The second was that it enhanced the formation of Mn3O4 species from Mn2O3 deposited initially on the alumina support calcined at 800 and 900 ℃. Consequently, the specific surface area of the Mn/Al mixed oxides calcined at 500 ℃ was increased by increasing the amount of dopant added. An opposite effect was observed by increasing the calcination temperature from 500 to 900 ℃. The doping followed by calcination at different temperatures brought about an increase in the catalytic activity of mixed oxides. Pretreatments did not modify the mechanism of the catalyzed reaction but changed the number of catalytically active sites without changing the nature of these sites.     

The effects of preparation method on the characteristics of alumina-zirconia powders

Two series of Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ powders with various contents of ZrO₂ were synthesized by sol-gel (chemical polymerization) and coprecipitation methods. The effect of ZrO₂ content and preparation method on the structure and texture of the resultant powders were determined. The samples were characterized by nitrogen sorption, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The sol-gel method yields more homogeneous powder and retards the aggregation of particles. It produces powders with a larger surface area, a smaller pore size, and a narrower pore size distribution than the coprecipitated one. The X-ray diffraction results show that the powders are amorphous at the calcination temperature below 700°C for both methods. Incorporation of zirconia into alumina greatly affects the surface properties of the powders upon heating, exerting a protective effect against sintering, and inhibiting both the crystallization of the -Al₂O₃ phase and the - to -phase transformation. Zirconia is dispersed in alumina matrix and does not form a new structure.     

SURFACE PROPERTIES OF SOME LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT PROTEINS

Surface properties of four proteins having molecular weights less than 5,000 are reported at air/water and alumina/water interface at pH 7.0. Reversibility in the adsorption of these proteins at the alumina/water interface is tested. The adsorption on alumina/water interface has been found to be controlled by electrostatic interaction. Positive adsorption was obtained when protein and alumina surface had opposite charges and negative adsorption was obtained when both protein and surface had same charges. Of the four proteins reversibility in adsorption was observed with the one having the lowest molecular weight of 3100. The adsorption behavior apparently had no correlation with their surface hydrophobic!ty. Time dependent changes in air/water interfacial tension was observed for all the four proteins indicating time dependent loosening of compact protein structure and surface unfolding.     

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.     

Relationship between the retention characteristics on an alumina column and physico-chemical parameters of some environmental pollutants

The retention behavior of 16 environmental pollutants was studied on alumina and porous graphitized carbon (PGC) columns using n-hexane as eluent. The relationship between the logarithm of the capacity factors determined on the alumina column and the physico-chemical characteristics of the solutes was elucidated by principal component analysis (PCA) followed by two-dimensional nonlinear mapping. The 12 original variables can be reduced to four with only a 10% loss of information. The logarithm of the capacity factor formed a cluster with the hydrogen donor and acceptor properties of the solutes and their Taft's constant on the two-dimensional nonlinear map of PC loadings indicating that both steric and electronic parameters play a considerable role in the retention mechanism on alumina support. Alcohols, aromatics and chlorinated alkanes formed separate clusters on the two-dimensional nonlinear map of PC variables suggesting that their retention mechanism may be different on the alumina column. Solutes were not retained on the PGC surface proving that under normal-phase conditions the retention capacity of alumina can be higher than that of PGC.     

Specific properties of fine SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> powders connected with surface segregation

The effect of surface segregation in Sb- and In-doped SnO₂ fine-grained powders has been analyzed in comparison with single-crystalline samples. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the Sb and In segregation processes were studied as a function of annealing temperature by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) after annealing in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. Significant differences between diffusion and segregation were revealed for doped powders and single crystals, obviously because of simultaneous diffusion and particle-growth processes proceeding during annealing of powders. For doped single crystals the thermodynamic equilibrium is approached after 24 h annealing above 850 °C and at 1000 °C for Sb and In, respectively. Higher effective activation energies of diffusion are observed for doped powders and the thermodynamic equilibrium is not achieved under technologically relevant annealing conditions. On the basis of dopant profile measurements anomalies in the electrical resistivity at 300 °C of Sb-doped SnO₂ powders annealed at 700 and 900 °C were attributed to an Sb-depleted zone formed beneath the segregated surface during the kinetic regime. To achieve optimum resistivity behavior for commercial application, inhomogeneous doping of powders must be avoided by appropriate preparation steps.