Surface chemistry and hydrolysis of a hydrophobic-treated aluminium nitride powder

The surface chemistry of a hydrophobic-treated and an untreated AlN powder has been studied using XPS, FTIR and zeta potential measurements. Whilst the surface-treatment provided significant hydrophobic behaviour, experiments revealed that the powder could not completely resist hydrolysis without the additional use of ≥1 wt.% of an appropriate surfactant. The latter also improved the water-resistance of the untreated powder, though to a far lesser extent. The active hydrolysis protection mechanism for the treated powder is believed to be the creation of a molecular shell that was formed as a result of the surfactant adsorbing onto the hydrophobically treated surface.