Gelcasting of Al2O3/Ag nanocomposite using water-soluble solid-salt precursor

In the present work, Al2O3/5 wt.% Ag nanocomposite was prepared by gelcasting process. Silver nitrate was used as the source of silver nanoparticles in the alumina matrix. Dolapix ET85 was found as the most effective dispersant agent to neutralize of unwelcome influence of silver ions on the behavior of slurry. The results indicated that the rheological properties and sedimentation behavior of the prepared slurries were significantly modified using 1.5 wt.% dolapix ET85, which also acts as a chelating agent. The FTIR investigations showed the preventative effect of dolapix on the damaging of rheological properties in the presence of silver ions. The average particle size of silver nanoparticles was measured to be about 50 nm using TEM microscopy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.