Small-Angle Neutron Scattering and Rheological Characterization of Aluminosilicate Hydrogels

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Vol. 87; no. 1; pp. 129 - 137
• Main Authors: Phair, John W., Schulz, Jamie C., Aldridge, Laurie P., Smith, J. David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-2004; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Alumina; Chemistry; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Hydrogen; Neutrons; Rheology; Aluminium oxide; Sodium silicate; Particle size; Storage modulus; Aluminosilicates; Composition effect; Loss modulus; Small angle neutron scattering; Fractal dimension; Preparation; Silicon Oxides; Sodium oxide; Hydrogel; Kinetic parameter; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2004.00129.x

Structure and formation of aluminosilicate hydrogels were investigated as a function of chemical composition. Oscillatory rheometry was used to measure the dynamic moduli, G‘ and G“, of the gels during setting. The formation of aluminosilicate hydrogels was monitored over time as a function of the storage modulus for gels of low solids volumes, φ < 0.030. Overall gel strength correlated well to the fractal dimension, D, observed by neutron scattering. Scattering data were interpreted using the power law, and the Guinier relationship was used to determine the size of the constructing colloidal/gel particles. Aluminosilicate hydrogels were observed to consist of large fractal aggregates of indeterminable size constructed from smaller subunits of ∼45 Å in dimension. Structure and formation of the gels were highly dependent on [Al2O3] and [Na2O] content.