Stabilizing High Solid Content Slurries for SiC Membrane Preparation with Enhanced Separation Performances

Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic membranes are highly sought-after for their exceptional properties including high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, good hydrophilicity, high flux, and high mechanical strength. However, achieving stable regulation of high solid content SiC slurries for membrane preparation remains a significant challenge. This study presents a novel approach to stabilize the dispersion of high solid content SiC slurries by controlling parameters such as solid content, pH, ball milling time and spray coating parameters. Furthermore, the impact of different milling durations on SiC particle size and membrane performance is systematically investigated, establishing, for the first time, a direct correlation between milling time and particle size. The investigations reveal that prolonged ball milling, specifically 18 hours, results in a notable reduction in membrane pore size by approximately 40%, accompanied by a remarkable enhancement in retention performance, as evidenced by a substantial increase in the average retention rate for 500 nm fluorescent microspheres from 54.61% to 98.89%. This study not only offers a practical method for the stable preparation of ceramic slurries, but also provide important reference for membrane morphology control and pore size regulation. These insights hold significant promise for advancing SiC membrane technology in applications such as wastewater treatment and resource recovery.