The interface properties of potassium titanate whiskers

This paper investigated a method of modifying potassium titanate whiskers (K₂O·6TiO₂) to obtain polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/K₂O·6TiO₂ composite particles through emulsion polymerization. The interface properties of pure and modified potassium titanate whiskers were studied in details. According to the characterizations of FT-IR, SEM and EDS, the surface of the potassium titanate whiskers was covered by PMMA molecules and the composite particles have a core-shell structure. The characterization of surface energy and interfacial tension showed that the interface property of modified whiskers has changed thoroughly and it was similar to that of PMMA, so the whiskers were covered by PMMA thoroughly. It made the potassium titanate whiskers modi-fied from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and the dispersibility of the whiskers in organic liquids improved greatly.