The Use of Colloidal Solutions of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Investment Casting Technology/ Wykorzystanie Koloidalnych Roztworów Nanoczastek Tlenku Cynku W Technologii Wytapianych Modeli

Abstract Studies presented here are relevant to the investment casting technology. The wettability of wax by the colloidal solutions of ZnO nanoparticles was tested in the following environments: esters, heptyl acetate (OH), butyl acetate (OB) and in alcohols: methanol (M), ethanol (E) and propanol (P). All colloidal solutions of ZnO showed very high effectiveness in wetting of the unmodified wax surface. Next, onto the surface modified with colloidal solutions of ZnO, a liquid ceramic slurry was applied (CMC). The wettability of the modified wax surface by the ceramic slurry is strongly dependent on the structure of organic solvents (the number of the functional groups of -OH, -COOH and the length of carbon chains). As regards the modifier (ZnO), the best wax wettability by CMC was achieved applying previously onto the surface of the wax a colloidal solution of ZnO nanoparticles in butyl acetate (OB). The contact angle amounted to about 38 deg. Studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis (XRD) allowed an assessment of the effect of colloidal solutions of ZnO nanoparticles on the wax - CMC interface morphology.