Colloidal Processing of Silicon Nitride with Poly(acrylic acid): I, Adsorption and Electrostatic Interactions

Abstract

The role of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in the dispersion of silicon nitride suspensions was investigated experimentally. The effects of concentration, relative molecular mass, and suspension pH were evaluated. The ionization of PAA was characterized by potentiometric titration and indicated a pH‐dependent conformational transition. The isoelectric point for silicon nitride decreased from pH 6.3 to pH 3 as the PAA concentration increased, roughly independent of relative molecular mass. A broadening of the stability region for silicon nitride was attributed to this effect. Redispersion in alkaline media, subsequent to destabilization by surface‐charge neutralization, improved following preadsorption of PAA in acidic media. This effect was attributed to formation of a protective polymer adlayer on the surface, which prevented primary minimum aggregation; an electrosteric contribution also may be present. The influence of free polymer on the suspension properties also is discussed.