Hyperdispersants are the secret weapon of ceramic colors!
Publish Time: 2025-03-11
The unique effect of hyperdispersants on ceramic pigmentsAs an ancient and important material, the production process and decoration techniques of ceramics have undergone a long development process. Ceramic pigments play a vital role in giving ceramic products rich colors and artistic expression. In the production and application of ceramic pigments, hyperdispersants are gradually becoming an indispensable auxiliary agent, bringing significant changes to the performance improvement of ceramic pigments. This article will explore in depth the unique role of hyperdispersants on ceramic pigments, including their performance in improving dispersibility, enhancing stability and improving application performance, and illustrate them with actual cases.
Basic characteristics and working principles of hyperdispersants(1) Basic characteristicsHyperdispersants are a class of polymer compounds with amphiphilic structures. This unique structure enables them to quickly and fully wet solid particles, ensure that ceramic pigment particles are evenly distributed in the dispersion medium, and have good stability, thereby increasing the content of solid particles in the dispersion system, and then improving the stability of the entire system.(2) Principle of ActionElectrostatic repulsion stabilizationBy adding ionic dispersants, a certain amount of surface charge will be generated on the surface of ceramic particles. These surface charges cause a greater repulsion between particles, thereby effectively preventing the aggregation of particles and achieving stable dispersion of particles. For example, in the production process of some ceramic pigments, when a specific ionic superdispersant is added, the electrostatic repulsion between pigment particles is enhanced, so that the particles can remain relatively independent in the solution, avoiding problems such as precipitation and uneven color caused by particle agglomeration.Steric hindrance stabilizationA certain amount of uncharged high molecular weight compounds is added to the suspension, and these compounds will adsorb on the surface of the particles to form a thicker steric hindrance layer. This steric hindrance layer will generate a spatial repulsion force, preventing the particles from approaching each other, thereby achieving the purpose of dispersion. For example, in the application of some high-performance ceramic pigments, the use of superdispersants with steric hindrance stabilization can form a protective film on the surface of the particles, which can prevent collision and agglomeration between particles even in a high-concentration pigment dispersion system, ensuring the uniform dispersion and stability of the pigment.Application scenarios and effects of superdispersants in ceramic pigments(1) Architectural ceramic productionIn the field of architectural ceramics, the quality and dispersibility of ceramic pigments directly affect the appearance and performance of the product. Traditional dispersants often fail to meet the requirements of modern architectural ceramics for bright colors and high uniformity. The application of superdispersants can effectively solve these problems. For example, in a well-known architectural ceramics manufacturer, the dispersion of pigments in tile glazes was greatly improved after the ceramic pigments were pretreated with superdispersants. After the tiles were fired, the colors became brighter and more uniform, and the surface gloss was significantly improved. This not only improved the quality grade of the products, but also reduced the defective rate caused by uneven pigment dispersion, bringing significant economic benefits to the company.(2) Daily ceramics manufacturingDaily ceramics have extremely high requirements for the safety and stability of pigments. The use of superdispersants can further improve the dispersion and stability of pigments while ensuring the safety of pigments. Taking a daily ceramics brand as an example, when it produced high-end bone china tableware, it used a new type of superdispersant to treat the pigments. The treated pigments have stronger adhesion to the surface of porcelain and are not easy to fade or fall off. At the same time, due to the uniform dispersion of pigments, the patterns of porcelain are clearer and more delicate, which improves the beauty and market competitiveness of the products.(3) Art ceramic creationArt ceramics focus on the expressiveness of colors and the presentation of artistic effects. Superdispersants can help artists better realize their creative intentions. In art forms such as ceramic painting and sculpture, artists need to use various pigments to express their ideas. However, the poor dispersibility of traditional pigments can easily lead to problems such as uneven color mixing and stiff brushstrokes. After using superdispersants, the fluidity and ductility of pigments are improved, and artists can mix colors and draw patterns more freely. For example, in some modern ceramic works, by using pigments treated with superdispersants, creators can achieve more delicate color transitions and rich layering, making the works more artistically appealing.Advantages of superdispersants compared with traditional dispersants(1) AdvantagesHigh-efficiency dispersibilitySuperdispersants have unique molecular structures and properties, which can quickly disperse ceramic pigment particles evenly in a short time. In contrast, the dispersion effect of traditional dispersants is often poor, and it takes a long time and a greater stirring intensity to achieve a certain degree of dispersion. For example, under the same conditions, using a hyperdispersant to treat ceramic pigments only takes a few minutes to achieve the ideal dispersion effect, while traditional dispersants may take dozens of minutes or even longer.Good stabilityHyperdispersants can form a stable adsorption layer on the surface of ceramic pigment particles, effectively preventing the particles from reflocculating during storage and use. This makes the ceramic pigment dispersion system containing hyperdispersants have high stability and can maintain the performance of the pigment for a long time. The dispersion system formed by traditional dispersants has poor stability and is prone to precipitation and stratification.Improving product performanceSince hyperdispersants can improve the dispersibility and stability of ceramic pigments, they can significantly improve the various properties of ceramic products. For example, in the fields of architectural ceramics, daily ceramics and artistic ceramics mentioned above, the products after using hyperdispersants have obvious improvements in color, gloss, adhesion and other aspects. However, due to the limited dispersion effect of traditional dispersants, the improvement of product performance is relatively small.(2) ComparisonThe application of traditional dispersants in ceramic pigments mainly has the following problems. The first is the poor dispersion effect, which makes it difficult to fully and evenly disperse the pigment particles, resulting in unstable product quality. Secondly, traditional dispersants have a great influence on the viscosity of the system, which may increase production costs and process difficulties. In addition, traditional dispersants also have certain limitations in terms of environmental protection, and some traditional dispersants may contain substances that are harmful to the environment and human body. Hyperdispersants overcome these shortcomings and gradually replace some traditional dispersants in ceramic pigments with their high efficiency, environmental protection and stability.
Hyperdispersants have a unique and significant effect on ceramic pigments. Through their excellent dispersing properties and stabilizing mechanism, hyperdispersants can effectively improve the dispersibility, stability and quality of ceramic pigments. In practical applications in many fields such as architectural ceramics, daily ceramics and artistic ceramics, hyperdispersants have shown broad application prospects and great value. With the continuous development of science and technology, it is believed that the application of hyperdispersants in ceramic pigments and other related fields will be more extensive and in-depth, making greater contributions to promoting the development of the industry.
