I have a few questions about sintering of metal nanoparticles which I would like to get some help about. I am trying to sinter titanium nanoparticles after electrospraying them.
My questions are:
- What should the Argon pressure and flow rate be during sintering?
- I will be using a PVP stabilizer during the electrospraying step. Will the sintering work if I don't remove the PVP stabilizer? (I have tried without removing the PVP and the sintering doesn't work)
- What is the optimum method to remove the PVP if I have to remove it?
In general, the pressure inside the tube is slightly higher than standard atmospheric pressure. However, you can investigate at higher pressures. The flow rate can be in the range of 50 to 200 sccm in order to maintain positive pressure and prevent air from diffusing in.
In the Ar atmosphere, it is impossible to remove PVP and it may end up contaminating your materials with carbon.
Sintering of Ti nanoparticles is tricky because you need to remove the surface oxides (TiOx). This elimination requires very low oxygen activity according to Ellingham diagrams. It is possible that Ar atmosphere in the sintering chamber is not enough to destabilize and remove titanium oxides.
PVP decomposition produce different C, O, and N containing species. These molecules can interact with Ti nanoparticles inhibiting sintering mechanisms
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