TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian researchers in association with researchers from Northern Carolina State University studied rheological behavior of the suspension of diamond nanoparticles in non-polar media.
Results of the research are important steps towards the better understanding of behavior of the nanoparticles in production of polymeric nanocomposites.
Diamond nanoparticles are a type of carbon nanoparticles that have very good physical, mechanical and thermal properties and biocompatibility. Unique properties of diamond nanoparticles are the reason for their various applications in individual manner or in form of combination with other materials such as polymers in different aspects, including biomedical engineering. However, there is little information available about the rheological properties of their suspensions.
Dr. Akbar Shojaee, one of the researchers, elaborated on the objective of the research, and said, We tried in this research to study the formation of three dimensional and gel-type structures of nanoparticles in mineral oil by using rheological tests. Then, we determined the distribution and dispersion of diamond nanoparticles, and how they react with the oil and create gel-type suspension in such media.
The mineral oil has been taken as a non-polar sample. Therefore, the results can be applied in the production of polymeric nanocomposite systems.
Based on the results, diamond nanoparticles have high tendency for flocculation (aggregates containing some clusters) in non-polar media through van der-Waals and hydrogen interactions between the particles. However, surface modification of the particles with silane compounds reduce or eliminate the interactions, and result in the formation of a homogeneous and stable suspension.
Results of the research have been published in Journal of Rheology, vol. 58, issue 5, 2014, pp. 1599-1614.