Nanoparticles for ceramic and nanocomposite processing

Abstract

Nanoparticles of various compositions have been fabricated by chemical processes. Sol-gel processes and precipitation processes have been used to prepare the nanoparticles and surface modifiers act as vehicles to tailor surface chemistry, the ζ-potential and to avoid agglomeration. In the first described industrial product development, SiO2 nanoparticles have been modified with CH3 groupings and materials with high adhesive strength, being flexible despite the low organic content have been obtained and a binder system for glass fiber mats, temperature resistant up to 500°C has been developed. The second development is based on SiO2 nanoparticles coated with methacrylic groupings and TiO2 nanoparticles coated with epoxy groupings. The corresponding sols form high density coatings (≈65 % kg volume) and are densified by crosslinking of the organics. These coatings have been used for the fabrication of interference layers (SiO2: n≈1.45; TiO2: n≈1,92) on plastic and glass.