Stability of Lithium Bentonite and Its Application in Ceramic Coatings

Lithium-based bentonite is a novel coating additive produced by incorporating lithium salts into aluminum silicate minerals through cation exchange. Due to its significant expansion and gelation capabilities in aqueous solutions, lithium-based bentonite is beneficial for the formation and stabilization of suspensions, and it exhibits excellent refractory properties at high temperatures. Additionally, it enhances the applicability of coatings, making it widely used as a suspending agent in mold coatings.

Lithium-based bentonite possesses physical and chemical properties: It is a grayish-white powder, finely ground to pass through a 200-mesh sieve. Its gel strength is 500, expands 98 times in aqueous solutions, has a pH of 10, and, after treatment with modified alcohol, fully dissolves in alcohol solutions to form a colloid.

Currently, ceramic coatings widely used domestically are mostly high-alumina or zirconia-based, which are of poor durability and feature high costs for raw materials, resulting in elevated production expenses. Research on the suspension mechanism of lithium-based bentonite mud slurry and its application as a suspension agent in ceramic coatings has shown that lithium-based bentonite is a high-temperature-resistant suspension agent with excellent suspension properties, high strength at elevated temperatures, and the ability to extend the lifespan of the coatings.