Preparation and characterization of neodymium disilicate ceramic ink by mechanical grinding

A ceramic jet-ink of sub-micron sized neodymium disilicate (Nd2Si2O7) in isoparaffin oil as a liquid solvent was prepared by mechanical grinding. The effect of dispersants (i.e., sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDS) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (PSM)) on the particle size distribution and rheological characterization of the prepared Nd2Si2O7 ink was investigated. The results show that the prepared ink has the optimal performance when the PSM content is 5 wt%. PSM as a non-ionic dispersant is suited to obtain a narrower size distribution and a lower viscosity due to the advantageous molecular structure. In addition, the surface tension and suspension stability of the prepared Nd2Si2O7 ink were also evaluated. It is indicated that all the comprehensive properties of this prepared Nd2Si2O7 ink could meet the application demands.