Inorganic-Organic Dispersant for TiO2 Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for dispersing TiO2 particles in solvents are unstable and prone to aggregation due to temperature and time influences, especially when using general organic surfactants or polymeric dispersants.
Innovation Solution
A composite inorganic/organic dispersant is developed, combining inorganic clay with organic surfactants or polyoxyalkylene-amine, which is produced by reacting these components to create a stable dispersant that effectively disperses metal oxide nanoparticles, including TiO2, by utilizing steric hindrance and geometric principles to prevent aggregation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If general organic surfactant or polymeric dispersant is used to disperse TiO2 particles, then the dispersant can be effectively attached to surfaces of TiO2 particles, but the dispersant is easily influenced by temperature and time and becomes unstable with aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining inorganic clay particles with organic surfactant molecules to form a hybrid dispersant system. The inorganic clay core provides structural stability and resistance to temperature and time influences, while the organic surfactant outer layer maintains effective attachment to TiO2 particle surfaces. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating the advantages of both material types: the thermal and temporal stability of inorganic materials with the surface-active properties of organic compounds.
2Productivity
If dispersant is desorbed or isolated from surfaces of TiO2 particles, then the TiO2 particles can be dispersed in solvent, but the dispersant becomes unstable with aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching organic surfactant molecules to inorganic clay particles before applying them to TiO2 surfaces. This pre-formed composite structure ensures that when the dispersant system contacts TiO2 particles, the organic surfactant is already positioned and oriented for effective attachment, preventing premature desorption or isolation. The inorganic clay core acts as a stable platform that anchors the organic surfactant, preventing aggregation even when some dispersant detaches from TiO2 surfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The dispersant achieves uniform dispersion and improved thermal, UV, and pH stability of TiO2 particles, even at high concentrations, enhancing mobility and reducing viscosity, making it suitable for various applications such as photocatalysts and pigments.
Implementation Method 1
the I/O dispersant is produced by reacting the inorganic clay with the organic surfactant
Implementation Method 2
By means of steric hindrance of the dispersant, the TiO2 particles will be stable and no longer aggregate in the solvent
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an inorganic/organic mixed component (I/O) dispersant and applications thereof, which is primarily applied to dispersing nanoparticles of metal oxides. The I/O dispersant of the present invention can be a composite of inorganic clay and an organic surfactant, a composite of inorganic clay and polyoxyalkylene-amine, or a composite of inorganic clay, polyisobutylene succinic anhydride (PIB-SA) and hydrochloric acid salt or tetraalkyl quaternary salt of polyoxyalkylene-amine, or fatty amines. By mixing with the I/O dispersant of the present invention, nanoparticles of a metal oxide can be uniformly dispersed without aggregation particularly at high solid content. The dispersion has a lower viscosity and is relatively stable in storage even at high temperature.