The use of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels as a multi-functional processing aid for aqueous alumina suspensions

Two temperature sensitive microgels of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) were prepared, one anionic in nature and the other cationic. The microgels were concentrated by centrifugation and the rheological properties of the microgels measured as a function of temperature. The anionic microgel showed a transition from an elastic gel like structure to a liquid like structure at 32°C, whilst the cationic microgel demonstrated the same transition, but at a slightly higher temperature of 34°C. Both systems were completely reversible. A sub micron sized alumina powder was then mixed into the microgels using an anionic dispersant, (Darvan 821A ) to stabilise the powder. The powder was added until the system was just reversible. The aim was to see which microgel behaved as the best processing aid for the alumina particles, in terms of dispersion, gelation and adhesion after drying. The resulting mixtures were freeze dried, sintered and investigated by electron microscopy. The best microgel / alumina system was the one with similarly charged particles, i.e. the anionic microgel, whereas the system containing the oppositely charged cationic microgel particles flocculated, as would be expected from simple electrostatic theory. The presence of the inorganic particles caused the sharp transition from elastic gel to viscous fluid to broaden and the systems to behave viscoelastically over the whole temperature range. Sintered products made from the two systems were remarkably different. With the cationic microgel the resulting structures crumbled, but with the anionic microgel robust structures were obtained. Hence it is feasible to use similarly charged microgels as processing aids for ceramics as long as both particles are not oppositely charged.