Study of Surface Modification of ZrO2/SiO2 Nanocomposites with Aluminum Zirconium Coupling Agent

Abstract

In this studies, the ZrO₂/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles are prepared by situ-modified method and the ZrO₂/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles are modified by aluminum zirconium coupling agent. By using the particle size analysis, it is confirmed that the mean particle size of modified ZrO₂/SiO₂composite nanoparticles is 55 nm and its distribution is uniform. The dispersion of modified ZrO₂/SiO₂composite nanoparticles is analyzed by the absolute value of ZrO₂/SiO₂nanoparticles Zeta potential. Through transmission electron micrograph (TEM) observation, it is found that aluminum zirconium coupling agent improve the dispersibility of ZrO₂/SiO₂composite nanoparticles. The hydroxyl groups on the surface of ZrO₂/SiO₂composite nanoparticles can interact with hydroxyl groups of aluminum zirconium coupling agent and an organic coating layer is formed. The formed covalent bands are testified by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR). The dispersion stabilization of modified ZrO₂/SiO₂composite nanoparticles in lubricating oil is significantly improved due to the introduction of grafted polymers on the surface of nanoparticles.