Dispersant-Binder Interactions in Aqueous Silicon Nitride Suspensions

In aqueous slurry processing of silicon nitride, the interaction of dispersant and binder on the surface of particles was studied to identify the effect of these additives on ceramic powder processing. Polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used as dispersant and binder, respectively. the adsorption isotherms of PMAA and PVA for the silicon nitride suspension were determined, while the adsorption of PMAA was differentiated in the mixed additive system by ultraviolet spectroscopy. These experiments were done in order to investigate the effect of these organic additives on the physicochemical properties of silicon nitride suspensions. The electrokinetic behavior of silicon nitride was subsequently measured by electrokinetic sonic amplitude (ESA). As PMAA adsorbed onto silicon nitride, the isoelectric point (pHicp) shifted from pH=6.7 to acidic pH, depending on the surface coverage of PMAA. However, adsorption of PVA did not change the pHicp of suspensions, but did decrease the surface potential of silicon nitride moderately. The rheological behavior of silicon nitride suspensions was measured to assess the stability of particles in aqueous media, and was correlated with the electrokinetic behavior and adsorption isotherm data for silicon nitride.