Dispersion of Solid Particles in Liquid Media

The dispersion behaviors of solid particles of silica, calcite, talc and graphite in water, ethanol and kerosene media and the effect of certain surfactants such as sodium oleate on the dispersion behavior have been studied. It was found that hydrophilic particles, such as silica and calcitc particles, which have naturally hydrophilic surface and manifest good dispersion behavior in water at suitable pH. tend to aggregate in kerosene; while the naturally hydrophobic talc and graphite particles, generally having a tendency to aggregate in water, disperse well in kersene. It was discovered that dispersion behavior of the particles in the mixture of water and ethanol are much better than separately in water or in pure ethanol media, the maximum dispersion occurs in the mixture of water and etlianol with ratio 1:1.The effect of surfacianus is completely opposite in water and kerosene. Furthermore, in kerosene media the dispersion behavior of particles fluctuates periodically with the increase of surfactant concentration.