Protecting nanoscaled non-oxidic particles from oxygen uptake by coating with nitrogen-containing surfactants

To suppress the reactivity of nanoscaled non-oxidic powders of titanium nitride (TiN) and silicon carbonitride (SiCN) against hydrolysis and oxidation, chemical surface modification with nitrogen-containing surfactants was investigated. Among these surfactants, long-chain primary amines, ethylenediamines, guanidines, nitriles, isocyanates, and succinimides were examined. Thermogravimetry, elemental analysis, and behavior against the water-vapor adsorption of the modified particles were used as methods to estimate the protective capacity of the organic coating material. The best results were obtained by using the long-chain amines and octadecylisocyanate, which were indicated by a significant shift of the powder oxidation toward the higher temperatures and an increase of the particle hydrophobicity. A long-chain succinimide was found to be the most effective in dispersing nanoscaled TiN in organic media. Preparation of a stable aqueous dispersion without significant changes in the elemental composition of the powder was achieved by the application of an ionic surfactant to the surface-modified particles.