A characterisation of the surface properties of an ultra fine fly ash (UFFA) used in the polymer industry

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 84; no. 18; pp. 2295 - 2300
• Main Authors: Potgieter-Vermaak, S.S., Potgieter, J.H., Kruger, R.A., Spolnik, Z., van Grieken, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Characterisation; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Micro-Raman spectrometry; Polymer filler; Thermal power plants; Ultrafine fly ash; Ultrafine fly ash; Micro-Raman spectrometry; Characterisation; Polymer filler; Measurement; Particle size; Thermal power plant; Ultrafine particle; Silica; Fly ash; Inductively coupled plasma; Emission spectrometry; Coal power plant; Ultrahne fly ash; Pulverized coal; Raman spectrometry; Plastics; Alumina
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2005.05.013

Fly ash is the residue from the combustion of pulverised coal in thermal power stations. It consists of a variety of particle sizes of hollow silica-alumina spheres, which can be utilised as a custom made filler material in a number of industries, e.g. plastics, rubber, paint, refractories, etc. The 5
μm average particle size fraction is popular for its application in plastic products. In order to comply with the requirements for application in plastics, it is essential to understand and characterise the surface of the ultrafine glass spheres coming into contact and interacting with the organic phase of the final composite. This contribution describes the use of a number of techniques, such as EPMA (Electron probe micro-analysis), Raman spectrometry, zeta potential measurements and ICP-OES (Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy) to investigate the surface composition and behaviour of the ultrafine fly ash particles.