Method for stabilizing ceramic suspensions

An aqueous ceramic composition that remains dispersed for a period of greater than about a day, comprising:

• an aqueous suspension of a reactive, water-soluble ceramic;
• and
• about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of an organic compound adsorbed on the ceramic, the organic compound being selected from the group consisting of hydroxylated benzoic acids.

A method for dispersing aqueous suspensions of reactive, water-soluble ceramics and reducing the rate of ceramic dissolution and hydration to maintain a dispersed suspension for a period of greater than about a day, comprising adding to an aqueous suspension of a reactive, water-soluble ceramic from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, based on the dry weight of the ceramic, an organic compound that adsorbs on the ceramic, the organic compound being selected from the group consisting of hydroxylated benzoic acids, the ceramic including a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals and the rare-earth metals.

A dispersed aqueous composition that remains dispersed for a period of greater than about a day, comprising:

• an aqueous suspension of a reactive metal oxide, the metal being selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals and the rare-earth metals;
• and
• about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of a hydroxylated carboxylic-acid adsorbed on the ceramic, the carboxylic acid satisfying the formula ##STR6## wherein at least one of R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 are hydroxyl and the remainder of R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxyl.

A method for dispersing aqueous colloidal suspensions of reactive, water-soluble oxides and reducing the rate of oxide dissolution and hydration so that the suspension remains dispersed for a period of greater than about a day, comprising the steps of:

• forming an aqueous suspension of a reactive, water-soluble metal oxide, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and the rare-earth metals;
• and
• adding to the suspension from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of a carboxylic acid that adsorbs on the ceramic, the carboxylic acid satisfying the formula. ##STR7## wherein at least one of R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 are hydroxyl and the remainder of R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxyl.

A method for stabilizing aqueous colloidal suspensions of reactive metal oxides so that the suspensions remain dispersed for a period of greater than about a day, comprising forming an aqueous colloidal suspension from ingredients comprising a reactive metal oxide wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Mg, and the rare-earth metals, and from about 0.1 to about 5.0 weight percent of a non-polymeric hydroxylated carboxylic acid that adsorbs on the ceramic, the hydroxylated carboxylic acid satisfying the formula ##STR9## wherein at least two of R.sub.1-R.sub.5 are hydroxyl and the remainder of R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxyl.

A dispersed aqueous composition that remains dispersed for a period of greater than about a day, comprising:

• an aqueous colloidal suspension of a reactive metal oxide, the metal of the metal oxide being selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca and the rare-earth metals;
• and
• from about 0.1 to about 5.0 weight percent, based on the dry weight of the metal oxide, of a non-polymeric carboxylic acid satisfying the formula ##STR10## wherein at least two of R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 are hydroxyl and the remainder of R.sub.1 -R.sub.5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxyl.