Zhang Lingyan

Dispersion and agglomeration mechanism of flaky graphite particles in aqueous solution

ABSTRACT The dispersion and agglomeration behavior of flaky graphite particles in an aqueous solution was studied. The small particles of flaky graphite naturally formed a large and compact agglomeration in an aqueous solution at pH 7.0 and 9.0, respectively. The theoretical calculation result based on typical DLVO theory was opposite the phenomenon observed by optical microscope, indicating that the interaction force between the flaky graphite particles exceeded the van der Waals and electrostatic double-layer forces. When the extended DLVO theory was used, the total interaction energy (UT = UA + UR + UHI) was negative over most of the distance range, indicating that the agglomeration of the small particles was attributed to the attraction. This result indicated that hydrophobic interactions dominated the dispersion and agglomeration behavior of the hydrophobic flaky graphite particles. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT