Effects of dispersants on dispersibility of titanium carbide aqueous suspension

• Adding proper Dispersant to TiC suspension, effectively improved the dispersibility of TiC powders in slurry.
• TMAH and PEI dispersants at the optimized concentrations, can increase the zeta potential of TiC suspension.
• In the low concentration of PEG 400, steric stability is responsible for slightly increasing the dispersion volume.

In this study, the dispersing phenomenon of titanium carbide suspensions has been investigated using various dispersants. The effect of pH and dispersant concentration on the dispersibility of the powder has been studied via sedimentation and zeta potential test. To optimize the pH range for the best dispersibility, the sedimentation test has been carried out in various dispersant concentrations in wide pH range. The zeta potential of TiC suspensions, both with and without polyelectrolyte addition, is examined as a function of pH. Zeta potential studies show that the isoelectric point of TiC powder is at pH 3.1. The use of an anionic polyelectrolyte, tetramethylammonium hydroxide in the optimum concentration, significantly increased the stability of suspension. The maximum value of the zeta potential − 60 mV is obtained in 0.4 wt.% at pH 8. The addition of a cationic dispersant, polyethylenimine, significantly alters the isoelectric point and shifts to the basic pH. The maximum stability of suspension was achieved in 2 wt.% at pH 8. The result showed that nonionic dispersant polyethylene glycol 400 is not a good dispersant for TiC suspension. The surface charge and potential do not change in the presence of this dispersant.