Plasma Treated TiO2 Nanoparticles for Dispersion Enhancement

TiO2 nanoparticles were treated in a fluidized reactor by introducing Hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) plasma monomer. The organic HMDSO-polymer vapor was condensed on the nanoparticles and lowered their surface energy. This plasma treatment was harmless to the crystal lattice of the TiO2 nanoparticles. The treated nanoparticles were mixed in glycol solutions and polymerized into TiO2-polyester composites for studying the effect of plasma deposition on dispersion. It was found that the dispersion of the TiO2 nanoparticles in both glycol and the polyester matrix was significantly improved due to lower surface energy and HMDSO plasma treatment, as from ultraviolet absorbency measurements and scanning electron microscopy observation. The theory of colloid stability successfully explained the dispersion enhancement of TiO2 nanoparticles in glycol. (plasma technology)