The effect of particle size on rheological properties of highly concentrated Ag nanosol

Abstract

The rheological properties of highly concentrated Ag nano sol depending on particle size were studied. The Ag nano sol was prepared by reducing the Ag ion in aqueous solution. The size of Ag nano particle was controlled by two steps of nucleation and growth, and the thickness of adsorption layer was varied by molecular weight of polyelectrolytes. The polyelectrolytes acted as not only ionic complex agent in ionic state and but also dispersant after formation of Ag nano sol. The effective volume was controlled by combination of varying the molecular weight of polyelectrolytes and the size Ag nano sol. The particle size and the viscosity of nano sol were characterized by particle size analyzer, HR-TEM and cone & plate viscometer. It was found that the 10 nm and 40 nmsized Ag nano sols were prepared by controlling the nucleation and growth steps, respectively. Finally, we could prepare highly concentrated Ag nano sol over 50wt%.