Influence of Indifferent Electrolytes on Formation of Coagulative Structures in Aqueous Silica Dispersions

Effects of indifferent electrolytes (NaCl, KCl, LiCl, NaI, NaNO3, CaCl2, and MgCl2) on the electrical double layer (EDL), aggregation, gelling, and rheological properties of aqueous dispersions of nanosilica were investigated. All examined indifferent electrolytes enhance interactions between nanoparticles of fumed silica through the coagulation mechanism. The critical concentration of gelation and gelling time decrease in the presence of the electrolytes, while the effective viscosity of the dispersions and average size of aggregates (D-ef) increase in series of chlorides: Li+ < Na+ < K+ < Ca2+ < Mg2+. That corresponds to an increase in the cation radius and reduction of the hydration shell. The nature of anions and cations significantly affects the values of Def and viscosity. For sodium salts, the viscosity increases in series I- < NO3- < Cl- corresponding to an increase in the hydration shell.