Application Relevant Characterization of Aqueous Silica Nanodispersions

Abstract

This work describes the application relevant characterization of eight commercially available silica powders dependent on dispersing procedure using different instruments: photon correlation spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and particle charge detector. The particle size of silica was found to be different in dispersion from that of all types of fumed silica, where, after proper dispersion, the measured average particle size is similar and much higher than the primary particle size. The different properties of these two silica types will be discussed.

Keywords:

• Dynamic light scattering
• silica
• specific surface area
• streaming potential

Acknowledgements

Christine Goltzsche is thanked for her competent assistance. The authors thank Dr. V. Albrecht for measuring the specific surface area by nitrogen adsorption.

Notes

^a On the basis of primary particle size (see Table 1).

^b With nitrogen adsorption.