Improving titanium dioxide dispersion in water through surface functionalization by a dicarboxylic acid

Abstract

In this work, we show evidence of improving the dispersion of titanium dioxide particles in water. This is observed in the titanium dioxide-water colloid by the shear-thinning flow behavior in rheological measurements induced by the functionalization of a glutaric acid layer on the surface of titanium dioxide particles. The characterization of the layer was achieved by using infrared spectroscopy and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance. Rheological measurements corroborated that functionalization of TiO2 particles decreases the rheological properties such as viscosity measurements at a constant shear rate in two orders of magnitude compared with the pure TiO2 in suspensions. We present the results as a novel strategy to limit the formation of agglomerates in these colloidal suspensions, and this will be of great use in applications in the paints field and printing technologies.