title: Influence of short chain organic acids and bases on the wetting properties and surface energy of submicrometer ceramic powders.
abstract: The effect of short chained organic acids and bases on the surface energy and wetting properties of submicrometer alumina powder was assessed. The surface chemistry of treated powders was determined by means of Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform spectroscopy and compared to untreated powder. The wetting of powders was measured using a modified Washburn method, based on the use of precompacted powder samples. The geometric factor needed to calculate the contact angle was derived from measurements of the porous properties of the powder compacts. Contact angle measurements with several probe liquids before and after modification allowed a theoretical estimation of the surface energy based on the surface tension component theory. Trends in the surface energy components were linked to observations in infrared spectra. The results showed that the hydrophobic character of the precompacted powder depends on both the chain length and polar group of the modifying agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (MTM), K.U. Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neirinck
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soccol
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fransaer
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Van der Biest
authors.forename: Jef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vleugels
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002082:Butylamines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D010421:Pentanoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry; D011422:Propionates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D013500:Surface Tension
chemical_list: D002082:Butylamines; D004655:Emulsions; D010421:Pentanoic Acids; D011208:Powders; D011422:Propionates; C038780:n-pentanoic acid; C029658:propionic acid; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C032462:n-butylamine