Functional ceramic and nanocomposite fibers, cellular articles and microspheres via radiation curable colloidal dispersions

de Hazan, Yoram; Märkl, Veronika; Heinecke, Judit; Aneziris, Christos; Graule, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2010.12.006

Functional ceramic and nanocomposite fibers, cellular articles and microspheres via radiation curable colloidal dispersions

de Hazan Y, Märkl V, Heinecke J, Aneziris C & Graule T

Citation

de Hazan, Y., Märkl, V., Heinecke, J., Aneziris, C., & Graule, T. (2011). Functional ceramic and nanocomposite fibers, cellular articles and microspheres via radiation curable colloidal dispersions. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 31(14), 2601-2611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2010.12.006

Persistent URL https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/empa/islandora/object/empa:4925

We present here new cellular ceramics, fibers and microspheres produced by novel and general microshaping techniques employing colloidal dispersions in solvent free radiation curable monomer mixtures. High loading, low viscosity dispersions of functional nanoparticles such as TiO₂ and α-Fe₂O₃ and colloidal Fe(C₂O₄)·2H₂O metal salt are achieved with comb-polyelectrolyte surfactants and/or mildly polar resins. TiO₂ dispersions are spun and solidified “on the fly” by UV radiation into continuous ceramic/polymer nanocomposite fibers with dimensions below 10 μm. Fe(C₂O₄)·2H₂O dispersions provide a UV curable alternative to α-Fe₂O₃ dispersions which can only be thermally cured. The Fe(C₂O₄)·2H₂O nanocomposites transform to α-Fe₂O₃ below 550 °C. Novel cellular Al₂O₃, TiO₂ and α-Fe₂O₃ articles with porosity >80% and precise replication of the pore-forming agents have also been produced from such dispersions. Al₂O₃ nanocomposite microspheres are produced by emulsification of the dispersions in an appropriate medium and UV curing.