Papers by Keyword: Colloidal Processing

Abstract: In this work, Poly(Acrylic Acid) (PAA) was employed as nanoparticle stabilizer for TiO₂. Adsorption and encapsulation of nanoparticles in polyelectrolytes impart stability due to stearic and electrostatic effects. Crosslinking of the polymer through UV-Irradiation permanently encapsulates the metal as well as reinforces the polymer cage. The efficient pH and ratio of reactants were optimized then assessed through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) for particle size and Zeta Potential Measurements for stability in aqueous solutions. Results showed that among the various TiO₂/PAA ratios, the 1:3 ratio showed minimal changes on the size and Zeta Potential values even when exposed to various pH conditions. Meanwhile at pH 5, TiO₂ attained a positive surface charge, while PAA exists in its deprotonated form, thus maximizing the electrostatic interaction between the two materials. Analysis revealed that in that particular ratio and pH range, particles size and zeta-potential value of 61.79 nm and -36 mV were obtained respectively. Physical morphology of the nanocomposites was characterized through Scanning Electron Microscopy, showing agglomerates of small particles, resulting to larger particles. Further studies shall be done to utilize the potential of the polymer-coated nanoparticles in dry form.

Abstract: Aimed by reducing the total cost of products, powder metallurgy (PM) processing of Ti is a subject of high interest. However, using of conventional PM techniques presents difficulties due to the intrinsic characteristics of Ti, like low strain ability, and high reactivity, which lead to low compressibility. Moreover, Ti powders with small particle size are difficult to process by conventional PM techniques as they present a lower compressibility and also a poor flowability. On the other hand, the colloidal processing has been used for long in ceramics to achieve green bodies with high densities, complex shapes and homogeneous microstructures, but they are rarely used to shape metal powders because of its high density and high surface reactivity. However, the possibility to process fine particles makes these techniques interesting for metals with low density like Ti.The colloid-chemistry control of metallic powders in aqueous slurries is proposed as a way to prepare Ti porous parts with small particle size, throughout the formulation of aqueous slurries with solid contents as high as 50 vol.%. The chemical and chemical-physic stability of Ti powders 10 μm in size was determined by measuring the zeta potential as a function of pH, and dispersant concentration, while the later optimization of Ti slurries and their adequation for the use of different colloidal techniques, were studied in terms of rheology and the addition of the processing additives, such as gel or foaming agents. Techniques such as thermal gelling, foaming, and impregnation of exo-templates or robocasting were used to build Ti parts with random and/or tailored macroporosity. The shaped pieces made on Ti were sintered in vacuum at 1100 oC for 30 minutes, and their microstructure and mechanical properties were determined and compared with dense materials shaped by combining PM and colloidal techniques in previous works

Abstract: This work focuses in the corrosion and wear properties of titanium reinforced with 1% wt. alumina particles, produced by a combination of colloidal techniques and powder metallurgy. The alumina particles were added to control the grain growth of titanium during sintering, and simultaneously to increase hardness and wear resistance. Colloidal techniques permitted a homogeneous dispersion of alumina particles on the surface of fine Ti particles by the formulation of stable aqueous suspensions that were further processed by spray-dry to obtain spherical granules with improved compressibility. Ti-alumina samples were produced by uniaxial pressing of granules and vacuum sintering leading to materials with homogeneous microstructure, a reduction of grain size higher than 50 % with respect to pure titanium, and a sensible increase in hardness. But the addition of ceramic particles can also have an influence on the corrosion behavior that is one of the most interesting properties of titanium alloys, and on wear resistance, that is one of the drawbacks of Ti. Moreover, the study of simultaneous action of wear and corrosion (tribocorrosion) is an area of highest interest in applications like biomedical or automotive. The corrosion behavior was evaluated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Potentiodynamic Polarization (PP) in NaCl at two concentrations (0.9 % and 3.5 %) and temperatures (37 oC, and room temperature). Tribocorrosion tests were performed using a reciprocating ball-on-plate tribometer where a 10 mm diameter alumina ball was used as counter material, and 10 N normal load was applied during 30 min in the same concentrations and temperatures of NaCl as in the static corrosion tests. The results showed a clear improvement of wear resistance on the composite without reducing the corrosion behavior in both conditions.

Abstract: The demand for tetragonal zirconia as a dental restorative material has been increasing because of its excellent mechanical properties and resemblance to natural tooth color, as well as its excellent biological compatibility. Cerium oxide (CeO₂) has been added to yttria-stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP), and studies have demonstrated that the stability of the tetragonal phase can be significantly improved. Y-TZP with 5wt% CeO₂ as a second stabilizer was developed via colloidal process, followed by a suitable sintering process. According to the literature, the sintering process is the most crucial stage in ceramic processing to obtain the most homogeneous structure with high density and hardness. This study aims to investigate the effect of sintering temperature on the mechanical properties of nanostructured ceria–zirconia fabricated via colloidal processing and slip casting process with cold isostatic pressing (CIP). Twenty-five pellet specimens were prepared from ceria–zirconia with 20 nm particle size. CeO₂ nanopowder was mixed with Y-TZP nanopowder via colloidal processing. The consolidation of the powder was done via slip casting followed by CIP. The samples were divided into five different sintering temperatures with. Results from FESEM, density and hardness analyses demonstrated statistically significant increase in density and hardness as the sintering temperature increased. The hardness increased from 4.65 GPa to 14.14 GPa, and the density increased from 4.70 to 5.97 (g/cm3) as the sintering temperature increased without changing the holding time. Sintering Ce-Y-TZP at 1600 °C produced samples with homogenous structures, high hardness (14.14 GPa), and full densification with 98% of the theoretical density.

Abstract: Colloidal processing was applied to a commercial 5 vol% 3Y-ZrO₂ nanosuspension with a particle size of 10-15 nm. The nanosuspension was concentrated by evaporation or by the newly developed method of osmotic dehydration. The viscosity and stability of concentrated suspensions were investigated. The concentrated nanosuspension prepared by osmotic dehydration was consolidated by centrifugation in non-porous moulds. The dried deposit had a relative density of 46% and pores ranged from 4 to 8 nm. This deposit was densified by pressureless presintering to closed porosity, followed by hot isostatic pressing in order to obtain transparent ceramics. After sintering, the tetragonal zirconia retained the nanocrystalline structure with an average grain size of 65 nm and an in-line transmission of 25 % (at 633 nm wavelength and 0.5 mm plate thickness).

Abstract: This study aims to evaluate the effects of sintering temperature on the density and hardness of tetragonal zirconia polycrystals stabilized with 3 mol% 3Y-TZP dental ceramic type. Five cylindrical specimens were fabricated from zirconia powder of particle size 50 nm via colloidal processing. The specimens were sintered densely at the final sintering temperatures of 1000, 1100, 1200, and 1300 °C, respectively. The sintered density and hardness of the sintered specimen were then examined. The results showed that the sintered densities and hardness of the specimen increased as the temperature increased from 1000 °C to 1300 °C. Zirconia 3Y-TZP could gain near full density and reach hardness of as high as 11.30 GPa at the final sintering temperature of 1300 °C. The density and hardness of zirconia structured from 3Y-TZP can be improved by controlling the final sintering temperature.

Abstract: The effects of a polyelectrolyte dispersant agent, polyethyleneimine (PEI), on the rheology of zirconia 3Y-TZP suspensions and the densification characteristics of sintered zirconia were investigated. The colloidal processing technique was used to minimize the agglomeration of nanoparticles during the fabrication of the samples. Five batches of 10% zirconia suspensions containing different amounts of PEI at 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.7 wt% were prepared. The rheological properties of the zirconia suspensions were determined using a rotational viscometer. The optimum amount of PEI that can maximize powders dispersion was determined. The green samples were then prepared using the slip casting process. The samples were densely sintered at a final sintering temperature of 1300 °C. The result revealed that the zirconia suspension with 0.5 wt% PEI was the most optimum amount to obtain a well-dispersed suspension. The sintered density of zirconia 3Y-TZP reached its maximum by adding 0.5 wt% PEI.

Abstract: The pure oxides (yttria, zirconia, titania, alumina, etc.) pastes ceramics production by concentrate suspensions is interesting because differently than plastic ceramics (clays), where these behaviours are often empirical available, the rheological suspensions behaviour are extensively studied. Thus, controlling the concentrate slips rheological parameters, is possible extend these analysis for better understand and control the plastic pastes production, providing subsidies to obtain after shaping process, such as extrusion and calendering, suitable products for the desired application. Thus, alumina suspensions rheological behaviour, with high solids loading (> 50 vol.%) adequately stabilized, slip cast shaped are available in this work. High solids loading suspensions, up to 60 vol.%, presents adequate flow for thickeners/plasticizers elements adds to produce ceramic plastic pastes.

Abstract: The morphology and particle size of boehmite play a decisive role on the application of alumina that derived from it. In this paper, we employed pseudoboehmite that produced from Al2 (SO4)3•18H2O and NH3•H2O at 70 °C, pH 7.5 as precursor to synthesize boehmite, and utilized different seeding when preparing pseudoboehmite and boehmite. To identify the influence of seeding on the microstructure of pseudoboehmite and boehmite, the products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and BET. The results indicate that the pseudoboehmite seeding has a significant influence on the morphology and particle size of pseudoboehmite to which we should pay high attention. However, the boehmite seeding does not play the role of crystal nucleus as expected. The further intrinsic mechanism study is ongoing.

Abstract: We describe the production of complex shaped ceramic green bodies with high strength and reliability using a novel forming method: temperature-induced gelation. Gelation is performed by moderately decreasing the temperature of the suspension, which induces in situ gelation and forms a network to bridge the suspended particles, leading to a stiff green body. The gelation mechanism is based on the separation of dispersant KD1 from solvent or the collapse of adsorbed layer on particle surface, which depends on the stability of starting suspensions.