Improving titanium dioxide dispersion in water through surface functionalization by a dicarboxylic acid

Abstract

In this work, we show evidence of improving the dispersion of titanium dioxide particles in water. This is observed in the titanium dioxide-water colloid by the shear-thinning flow behavior in rheological measurements induced by the functionalization of a glutaric acid layer on the surface of titanium dioxide particles. The characterization of the layer was achieved by using infrared spectroscopy and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance. Rheological measurements corroborated that functionalization of TiO₂ particles decreases the rheological properties such as viscosity measurements at a constant shear rate in two orders of magnitude compared with the pure TiO₂ in suspensions. We present the results as a novel strategy to limit the formation of agglomerates in these colloidal suspensions, and this will be of great use in applications in the paints field and printing technologies.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Colloids
• dispersions
• nanoparticles
• titanium dioxide

Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to M.I.M. Claudia Gpe. Elías Alfaro for experimental assistance in the TEM measurements and to Mayra Ivonne Sánchez Ramírez for her assistance with English grammar and spelling.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the publication of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The Tecnológico Nacional de México supported this work under Grant 6044.17-P.