Dispersibility of Nano-TiO2 Paste with Fine Ceramic Beads and Morphology of the Mesoporous Film

We report the dispersibility of nano-TiO2 with fine ceramic media beads, zirconia, silica, alumina and titania of less than 1 mm in size. The pastes were water-based with polymeric dispersal by means of the rocking apparatus. Dispersibility of the pastes was evaluated in progress using a measurement of the pastes’ particle sizes. The results showed that smaller beads produced nano-TiO2 disperse effectively and independently of the bead material. Plasma melted 0.03 mm zirconia beads presenting advantages over sintered beads against the contamination of zirconium in dispersal. Observation of each film’s inner structure clarified that a highly mesoporous condition was obtainable from these good dispersive pastes.