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Interparticle forces in silica nanoparticle agglomerates

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Abstract

To improve the understanding of the poor dispersability of fumed silica nanoparticle agglomerates, the stability of highly defined agglomerated model particles was investigated. The high temperature synthesis conditions for fumed silica were simulated by tempering. Along with electron-microscopical analysis of the sintering necks, the interparticle forces were investigated by energy resolved fragmentation analysis based on low pressure impaction. At temperatures above 1,000 °C the fragmentability of the agglomerates rapidly decreased while the energy necessary for fragmentation increased. The development of sintering necks was observed for temperatures exceeding 1,300 °C. Comparison of the experimental data with the fragmentation behaviour of a commercially produced fumed silica indicated solid state contacts (sintering necks) as being most numerous in the agglomerates resulting in limited fragmentability.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude for the funding of this project by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under grant number KA 1373.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Mechanische Verfahrenstechnik und Mechanik, Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Am Forum 8, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany

    M. Seipenbusch, S. Rothenbacher & G. Kasper

  2. Lehrstuhl für Feststoff- und Grenzflächenverfahrenstechnik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 4, 91058, Erlangen, Germany

    M. Kirchhoff

  3. Mechanische Verfahrenstechnik und Umweltverfahrenstechnik, Universität Paderborn, Pohlweg 55, 33098, Paderborn, Germany

    H.-J. Schmid

  4. Institut für Mechanische Verfahrenstechnik, Technische Universität Clausthal, Leibnizstrasse 19, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany

    A. P. Weber

Authors
  1. M. Seipenbusch
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  2. S. Rothenbacher
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  3. M. Kirchhoff
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  4. H.-J. Schmid
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  5. G. Kasper
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  6. A. P. Weber
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Correspondence to M. Seipenbusch.

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Seipenbusch, M., Rothenbacher, S., Kirchhoff, M. et al. Interparticle forces in silica nanoparticle agglomerates. J Nanopart Res 12, 2037–2044 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9760-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9760-5

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