Direct observation of particle dispersion patterns in non-aqueous slurries using an in-situ solidification technique

概要

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Characterization of particle dispersibility in slurry as raw materials for fabricating ceramics is very important since the dispersibility gives great effects directly on qualities of final ceramic products. In this study, a direct observation of particles dispersed in liquid media using an in-situ solidification technique, which has been developed by our group and examined only in aqueous systems so far, has been extended to non-aqueous systems. In this paper, radical polymerization with several combinations of monomer/cross-linker and initiator was attempted to find out gelling agent that was able to solidify slurry without any influence on particle dispersion. The direct observations of yttria or alumina particles in non-aqueous solvents were carried out with the selected gelling agent. The observations showed clearly dispersion patterns of the particles in the solvents such as pearl chain-like or island structures. The particles tended to be coagulated strongly in solvents with low dielectric constant, which agreed with results of conventional characterization methods such as apparent viscosity of the alumina slurries.