Research on the Dispersibility of Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate (SDBS)-Modified Hydrophobic SiO2 Aerogel in Deionized Water
摘要
To address the critical issue that SiO2 aerogels are prone to agglomeration and exhibit poor dispersibility in aqueous fire-extinguishing agent systems, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), a low-cost and environmentally friendly dispersant, is employed in this study. To ensure efficient dispersion, SDBS is used at a concentration exceeding its critical micelle concentration (CMC). Accordingly, it is essential to investigate the dispersion effect and underlying mechanism under this condition, and further clarify the effective concentration range. The findings reveal that optimal dispersion performance is achieved when the stirring duration is set at 30 min, with an SDBS-to-aerogel mass ratio of 1.5:1. Under these conditions, the modified aerogel suspension exhibits an absolute Zeta potential value exceeding 30 mV, while maintaining a stable viscosity below 1 Pa·s. Analysis suggests that SDBS primarily regulates the dispersion process through electrostatic repulsion effects, hydrogen bond formation, and steric hindrance mechanisms. Furthermore, it is proposed that SDBS micelles undergo self-assembly to form a three-layered structure, comprising the aerogel core, a micellar shell, and an irregular surface-active molecular entanglement layer.