Microwave-induced Dispersion of Nano-ZnO Powder in Polyacrylamide Colloid

Microwave-technology was used to enhance the dispersion of nano-ZnO powder in polyacrylamide (PAM) colloid. The PAM colloid was obtained by dissolving PAM powder into the solvents of water and methanol. The powder of nano-ZnO was put into the PAM colloid with a certain content. The dispersion of nano-ZnO powder in the colloid of PAM was carried out in the field of microwave with stirring under the conditions of microwave power 400~500W, stirring time 30 min and stirring rate 600 r?min-1. The characterization of the dispersion of nano-ZnO powder in the colloid of PAM was done by TEM. The TEM photos of nano-ZnO particles in PAM colloid showed that under the condition of microwave-induced dispersion, the content of the aggregation of nano-ZnO particles in PAM colloid is very low compared with that in the condition of stirring dispersion. After the microwave-induced dispersion, the sizes of the most of nano-ZnO particles in PAM colloid are among 40~70nm. It is suggested that in the field of microwave the microcrystals on the surface of nano-ZnO may absorb ions or groups with charge, yielding protection layer, therefore prohibit the aggregation of nano-ZnO particles in PAM colloid.