Graphite dispersion in oil

olimpo001

2nd December 2005 - 01:56 PM

Hi

I'm trying to formulate a stable dispersion of graphite in paraphinic oil. I'm using a very pure graphite with very small particle size. I've tried all kinds of surfactants and dispersants but none of them have worked so far, and at the end the graphite keeps separating.

So far I've used several surfactants
(from nonyl phenols, to phosphate esters) and ethylene/propylene copolymers. I've also used fatty acids, amines, sulphonates, and others.

Can anybody point me in the right direction? Is there some web site where I can find information on this matter?

Thanks.

Zephir

3rd December 2005 - 05:30 PM

QUOTE (olimpo001+Dec 2 2005, 01:56 PM)

So far I've used several surfactants
(from nonyl phenols, to phosphate esters)

Hi olimpo, your surfactants should exhibit bonding as for graphite, as for solvent to be effective. The whole problem is, the graphite surface is nonpolar by the same way, as the rest of liquid, so that the common amfifillic surfactants doesn't work.

You have make the suface of the graphite more atractive for such sufactants for example using a sulfonation or oxidization. Please consult the so called magnetic fluids composition patents, as this is a quite simmilar problem.

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