Investigation on the Adhesion Force between Tetrabutylammonium Bromide Hydrate Particles Using Atomic Force...

Area of Science:

• Physical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Colloid Science

Background:

• Understanding interparticle forces is crucial for multiphase systems.
• Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) hydrates are relevant in various industrial processes.
• The quasi-liquid layer (QLL) influences particle interactions and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the adhesion forces between TBAB hydrate particles.
• To determine the influence of temperature and TBAB concentration on adhesion.
• To correlate adhesion forces with the thickness of the quasi-liquid layer (QLL).

Main Methods:

• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to measure adhesion forces.
• An adhesion force model was used to calculate QLL thickness.
• Experiments were conducted at varying temperatures and TBAB concentrations (0-30 wt %).

Main Results:

• Adhesion force increased with temperature at 30 wt % TBAB, attributed to increased QLL thickness.
• Adhesion force decreased with increasing TBAB concentration at 253 K.
• Higher TBAB concentrations led to thinner QLL, potentially due to altered hydrate conversion rates.

Conclusions:

• QLL thickness is a key factor governing adhesion between TBAB hydrate particles.
• Temperature and TBAB concentration significantly influence QLL thickness and, consequently, adhesion forces.
• Findings provide insights into the behavior of hydrate particles in dispersed systems.