Effect of Sodium Ions on the Dielectric Conductivity of Porous Silica in Humid Environments

Abstract

ABSTRACTPartially sintered silica gels were immersed in different NaCI solutions to deliberately introduce a small amount of sodium ions ranging from 387 to 9900 ppm. Dielectric measurements were carried out in the frequency range 12 to 107Hz under various relative humidity conditions. Two relaxation processes were observed in the impedance and modulus planes and were assigned to two separate regions in the hydrated silica surface. The top region is expected to be rich in hydrated sodium since its modulus relaxation time depends strongly on the relative humidity as well as the sodium content. The interfacial region is believed to be composed of structured water since its dielectric conductivity is affected mainly by the amount of water adsorbed on the pore surfaces.