Hi,
Someone knows any method to disperse Al2O3 nanoparticles (or nanotubes)
in polymeric matriz?
And which is the apropriated techniques to assesment this dispersion?
EDS?
Thanks
Conventional fillers can be processed in a three-roll mill.
I don't know if this applies to nanoparticles. It is not
a high-shear process.
The finest dispersions I've ever seen were made with
a microfluidizer from Microfluidics.
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If that can't do it, nothing will. A few cautions
about these machines:
1. They are quite expensive.
2. The throughput is low. They are mostly used
for expensive materials, such as cosmetics.
3. The machines make a great deal of noise.
This is not obvious from the sales literature.
Conventional filler dispersion is evaluated with a
Hegman gauge. Obviously, that won't work for
nanoparticles.
For fluid dispersions.....
Horizontal bead mills.
I've worked with microfluidizers, bead mills and homogenizers, sand
mills.......
Bead mills are commonly used by the paint and ink industries. They are
suitable for both aqueous and solvent based systems.
They have high throughput and come in sizes ranging from 0.5L to 200L
chambers. Several manufacturers make them. (I have my own preferences).
They are very versatile pieces of equipment.
They are not cheap! Neither are the ceramic beads that are used in them.
They commonly used to disperse "nano" carbon black and "nano" metal oxides.
What size is your material - as soon as I here the word "nano" - I get
suspicious - everything is becoming "nano" and the definition keeps
changing.
Cheap fumed metal oxides are now expensive combustion synthesized "nano"
particles .... etc. etc.
Microfluidizers are good for low throughput - What kind of production
rates are interested in?-
lab work or railroad cars worth. - yes- nano particles are produced by
the railroad car and have been for decades.
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