Hydrated Magnesium Silicate Nanofiber

2023-11-20 10:46:41   338

Nanometer mineral fiber refers to the inorganic mineral fiber or organic/inorganic mineral fiber with a diameter in the nanometer size range (1-1000nm), which has the characteristics of high porosity, large length-to-diameter ratio, large specific surface area, high surface energy and activity, and high fiber fineness and uniformity.

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The hydrated magnesium silicate nanofiber is a fibrous silicate clay mineral containing magnesium, belonging to the rhombic or monoclinic crystalline system, with the chemical formula Mg8Si12O30(OH)4(H2O)4(H2O)4·8H2O, which is a hydrous silicate mineral. In the dry state, the hydrous magnesium silicate nanofiber has the characteristics of low shrinkage, good plasticity, large specific surface area, large pore volume, strong adsorption and light weight. It has strong adsorption, decoloration and dispersion properties. It also has high thermal stability, can withstand the high temperature of 1500-1700℃, and is easy to be molded, with good insulation and salt tolerance. 

The theoretical total surface area of hydrated magnesium silicate nanofibers is up to 800-900 m2/g, of which the pore surface area is 500 m2/g and the channel surface area is 400 m2/g. The unique fiber structure makes it have larger specific surface area and pore volume, as well as stronger adsorption performance and molecular sieve functions. 

When the hydrated magnesium silicate nanofibers are used for flame retardants and flame retardant materials, they can form efficient flame retardant synergies with halogen-free flame retardants (metal hydroxide or intumescent) under combustion conditions, and promote the polymer to form a denser ceramic layer. 

Hydrated magnesium silicate nanofiber is modified flame-retardant and fire-proof functional materials based on natural silicate minerals, which is used to improve the integrity of flame retardant materials and promote the formation of a very stable, consistent and dense carbon layer. It helps to reduce heat release and water dripping, thus preventing the fire from spreading. It is suitable for all kinds of plastics and resin substrates with high requirements for flame retardant grade, such as silicone, polyolefin, polyamide, etc., and can form an efficient flame retardant synergistic effect with halogen-free (metal hydroxide or intumescent) flame retardant to promote the polymer to form a denser ceramic layer; It has the characteristics of improving oxygen index, enhancing the strength and compactness of carbon layer, promoting shell formation and porcelain formation, reducing smoke density, increasing smoke release rate and reducing total amount of smoke discharge.

Major application
● Ceramic additives;
● Wire and cable (low and medium voltage cables, communication cables and other cables with high fire rating requirements);
● Electrical components (flame-retardant electronic and electrical structures);
● Paints and coating (casting coatings, building sealant, fire-retardant coatings);
● Fire-fighting facilities (refractory materials, fire-proof seals, fire-proof sealing strip, distribution box/cabinet components, etc.)
● Fire-proof building materials (fire-proof plastic wallboard/ template, fire-proof resin floor);
● Insulating materials (epoxy resin insulation, fire-proof foam, etc.)

Application of hydrated magnesium silicate nanofibers

Natural magnesium silicate in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China was originally used for porcelain refractory saggar, has been widely used in light industry, building materials, chemical industry, metallurgy, agriculture, animal husbandry, national defense and many other fields, especially plastic reinforcement, polymer flame retardant synergies, rubber fillers, coatings, adsorbent, drilling mud, feed additives, desiccant and other applications, has great potential for development. Especially in the field of flame retardant and fireproof materials, it has obvious characteristics of increasing oxygen index, improving the strength and density of carbon layer, promoting shell formation and porcelain formation, reducing smoke density, increasing smoke release rate and reducing the total smoke volume.

Purified hydrated magnesium silicate nanofibers are mainly used in the fields of flame retardant, heat insulation, reinforcement, suspension thickening, environmental protection and so on. Including high-performance flame retardant plastics, ceramic polymers (silicone and polyolefin), rubber reinforcement, high-end insulation foam, fire retardant materials, multi-functional fire retardant coatings, self-cleaning coatings, photocatalytic building materials, etc. For example, fireproof seals, special adhesives, potting materials, lubricants, cosmetics and other industries.

The role of use in coatings is thickening thixotropy, anti-settlement, suspension stability, easy dispersion, improved construction, large specific surface area, high adsorption, low residual charge, and no expansion of crystal structure. Mainly used in anticorrosive coatings, casting coatings, wood coatings, color paste, ceramic tile putty, dry-mixed mortar, special coating, asphalt, resin and emulsion.

Because of its unique structure and performance, hydrated magnesium silicate nanofibers can be used as adsorbents, which have better adsorption properties than other clay minerals, such as high adsorption capacity and wide adsorption range for dirty gas, and their adsorption rate is 5-30% higher than that of activated carbon.

Hydrated magnesium silicate nanofiber can be used in drilling mud. It is an ideal drilling mud material because of its good salt resistance, high thermal stability (crystal lattice structure does not change at 350℃) and strong adaptability as a thixotropic tackifier. Hydrated magnesium silicate nanofibers can improve the flow of mud in the annulus, improve the carrying capacity of mud, and enhance wall building, which is beneficial to safe drilling and more convenient to use.