Rheological Properties of SiC Suspensions with a Compound Surface Modification Using Ethyl Orthosilicate and Ethylene Glycol

Abstract

Ultrafine silicon carbide (SiC) powders were surface-modified using ethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) combined with ethylene glycol. SiC suspensions with favorable rheological properties, low viscosity, and high solid loading were successfully obtained. The mechanisms of the compound surface modification for SiC powders as well as the influences of the compound surface modification not only on functional groups and charge state of the surface for SiC powders but also on the rheological properties of SiC suspensions were investigated in the present study. The results show that under alkaline conditions and acidic conditions, the surface charge states of SiC powders were [Si-OCH₂CH₂O]⁻ and [Si-OCH₂CH₂OH₂]⁺, respectively. The absolute value of zeta potential reached the maximum value of 22.69 mV at pH 11. Additionally, with added 1 wt% TEOS and 3 wt% ethylene glycol, the SiC suspensions exhibited good rheological properties, low viscosity and high stability due to the steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsion offered by the [Si-OCH₂CH₂O]^- with a high concentration.

Keywords:

• Ethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)
• ethylene glycol
• rheological property
• silicon carbide
• suspension

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51072121 and 51101104).