Additive-Containing Silica Sol for Stable Dispersion in Ionic Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Silica sols tend to aggregate in aqueous or organic solvents containing ionic components due to loss of electrical balance on the surface of silica particles, leading to instability.
Innovation Solution
A silica sol with added additives that adjust the surface electric charge to maintain stability, characterized by specific scattering intensity ratios determined by small-angle X-ray scattering, ensuring dispersion without aggregation even in ionic media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If silica particles are dispersed in an aqueous medium or organic solvent containing an ionic component, then the dispersion medium provides a suitable environment for certain applications, but the electrical balance between the electric charge on the surface of the silica particles and the dispersion medium is lost leading to aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific additive as an intermediary substance between the silica particles and the ionic dispersion medium. This additive modifies the surface properties of the silica particles, creating a protective interface that prevents direct interaction between the ionic components and the particle surfaces, thereby maintaining dispersion stability while allowing use of versatile dispersion media
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface charge parameters of the silica particles by adding specific substances that alter the electric charge characteristics. This parameter change adjusts the zeta potential and surface charge density to maintain electrical balance in ionic media, preventing aggregation while preserving adaptability to different dispersion environments
2Stability of the object's composition
If the electric charge on the surface of silica particles is increased to prevent aggregation, then dispersion stability is improved, but the electrical balance with the dispersion medium is disrupted when ionic components are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the surface charge parameters of silica particles by introducing additives that adjust the electric charge characteristics. This parameter change optimizes the balance between maintaining sufficient repulsive force for stability and ensuring compatibility with ionic dispersion media, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability
3Device complexity
If conventional silica sols are used in ionic-containing solvents, then the simplicity of the system is maintained, but aggregation occurs due to loss of electrical balance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific additive as an intermediary that modifies the silica sol system. This additive acts as a stabilizing agent that prevents aggregation in ionic media while maintaining relative system simplicity, as it involves adding a single type of substance rather than complexing the entire system
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 silica sol remains stable and dispersed in aqueous or organic solvents with ionic components, maintaining transparency and preventing particle aggregation, as evidenced by reduced HAZE values and particle diameter ratios.
Implementation Method 1
the electric charge on the surface of the silica particles can be changed, and the electric charge on the surface of the particles affects the dispersion state of the silica particles in the dispersion medium
Implementation Method 2
X-ray scattering occurs when X-rays are used, and when X-rays with a short wavelength are used, scattering from the structure becomes small-angle scattering appearing at small angles of a few degrees or less
Implementation Method 3
a small-angle scattering method using X-rays is used for structural analysis on the order of several nm to several tens of nm
Implementation Method 4
an appropriate electrical repulsive force between silica particles is generated due to the electric charge on the surface of the silica particles, and the silica particles can be dispersed in the dispersion medium without aggregation
Data Source
AI summary
An additive-containing silica sol in which a scattering intensity (I) of the additive-containing silica sol as a function of scattering vector (q) determined by a small-angle scattering method using X-rays satisfies Formulae (2) and (3):0.1≤(ImaxB)/(I0B)-(ImaxA)/(I0A)≤4.8Formula (2)1≤(ImaxA)/(I0A)Formula (3)where IB0 and IA0 are respectively scattering intensities when scattering vector (q) nm−1 of the silica sol is 0.05 if a silica particle concentration in the silica sol before (IB0) and after (IA0) an additive is added is 3.5% by mass, and IBmax and IAmax are respectively scattering intensities when the scattering vector (q) nm−1 of the silica sol is a maximum value if the silica particle concentration in the silica sol before (IBmax) and after (IAmax) the additive is added is 3.5% by mass. A HAZE value of the silica sol after storage at 20° C. for 24 hours is lower than before the additive is added.