Electroconductive iron oxide particles

Abstract: Electroconductive iron oxide particles having a volume resistivity less than 5 x 10⁶ Ω-cm, and comprising iron oxide particles selected from hematite and maghemite, and SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution deposited on the surfaces of the iron oxide particles, and a process for producing them.

Description: The present invention relates to electroconductive iron oxide particles, to a process for producing said electroconductive iron oxide particles and to an antistatic material comprising said electroconductive particles. Recently, the use of clean rooms is prevailing safety assurance, hygienic working atmosphere and precision of work. In order to minimize dust in such clean rooms, antistatic materials are being used. Antistatic materials are also required for preventing discharge breaks of IC's and LSI's. Generally, an antistatic material is produced by dispersing the particles of an electroconductive substance in a base material such as, for example a coating material, rubber or plastic to impart electroconductivity to such material. In the production of such antistatic materials, it is necessary that the electroconductive substance does not lower the properties of the base material. This requires that the particles of the electroconductive substance to be dispersed in the base material have per se high electroconductivity so that they can impart the desired conductivity to the base material when added in as small a content as possible. This fact is described in much literature, for example, "The 24th Pigment Engineering Seminar - Conductive materials and Their Applications" (1986) held under the joint auspices of the Kanto branch of Journal of the Japan Society of Colour Material, the Pigment Technology Research Society and the Kanto branch of the Japan Pigment Technology Association, which states on page 1 line 19: "....... The properties required for the conductive fillers are shown in FIG. 2. Needless to say, there are required those fillers which show the desired conductivity with a small content and hardly deteriorate the resin properties.". The electroconductive material particles are also required to be highly resistant to acid(s) in the vehicle in the production of coating material, etc., and to have excellent weather resistance so as not to cause environmental pollution. This fact is also described in the above-mentioned literature, "the properties, ...., stability, .... of the preferred fillers" with reference to "FIG. 2". On the other hand, improvements in cultural and social life standards in recent years have raised the requirements for not only the improvement of functional qualities of commodities but also greater variety of their appearance from the sensory and fashionable aspects. Concerning color, for instance, there is strong demand for a larger variety of colors, especially for beautiful chromatic colors. Various kinds of conductive material particles are now available. For instance, carbon particles such as a carbon black powder, metal particles such as, for example copper powder, aluminum powder and nickel powder, reduced titanium oxide particles, mica particles coated with Sb-containing SnO₂ or TiO₂ and metal oxide particles such as titanium oxide particles coated with SnO₂ containing Sb as a solid solution are known. The conductive material particles having excellent stability and electroconductivity are the most strongly required at present. However, the presently available carbon particles, although excellent in stability, have the problems in an aesthetic aspect because of their black color. While the metal particles obtainable from conventional methods, although having excellent electroconductivity, are low in resistance to acid(s) in the vehicle and also poor in weather resistance and stability. Further, the metal oxide particles, although high in stability, are unsatisfactory in electroconductivity. For example, the electric resistance of the iron oxide particles, which are the most typical example of the metal oxide pigment particles, is of the order of 10⁸ to 10⁹ Ω -cm. It is common practice to reduce the metal oxide particles or coat the metal oxide particles with various kinds of material for imparting electroconductivity to such particles. However, all of the available metal oxide type conductive material particles are white or of an achromatic color ranging from gray to black. Thus, the establishment of technical means for obtaining the electroconductive material particles having excellent stability and electroconductivity as well as beautiful chromatic color other than black has been strongly required. As a result of extensive studies conductive material particles having excellent stability and electroconductivity as well as beautiful chromatic color have been found. Accordingly, the present invention provides electroconductive iron oxide particles having a volume resistivity less than 5 x 10⁶ Ω-cm, and comprising (a) iron oxide particles which are selected from hematite and maghemite and which are coated with a layer of an oxide of Si and/or Ti and (b) SnO₂ particles which contain Sb as a solid solution and which are deposited on the surface of said layer of Si and/or Ti oxide. The present invention also provides a process for producing the electroconductive iron oxide particles of the invention, which process comprises adding at least one compound containing Si and/or Ti to a suspension containing iron oxide particles; stirring the resultant suspension to form an oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer containing Si and/or Ti on the surface of the iron oxide particles; mixing the suspension containing iron oxide particles having formed on their surface an oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer containing Si and/or Ti with an aqueous suspension containing Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles; stirring the mixed suspension so that the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles are deposited on the surface of the oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer containing Si and/or Ti; subjecting the thus obtained iron oxide particles to filtration, washing with water and drying; and then calcining the thus obtained iron oxide particles at a temperature of 400 to 800°C. Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate (SnO₂.2H₂O) is hereinafter referred to as Sn₂O hydrate. Using the process of the present invention there can be thereby obtained electroconductive iron oxide particles assuming a reddish to dark purple, golden yellow or liver brown color, maintaining the color of the starting iron oxide particles. Being an oxide, the electroconductive iron oxide particles according to the present invention have high resistance to acid(s) in the vehicle used in the preparation of, for example the coating material and are also excellent in weather resistance so that there is little possibility of causing environmental pollution. The electroconductive iron oxide particles according to the present invention are also characterised by a low electric resistance. The iron oxide particles used in the present invention may take any form such as acicular, cubic, spherical or plate-like, preferably plate-like form. The acicular particles used in the present invention are generally ones having an average diameter (major axis) of 0.1 to 3.0 µm, preferably 0.2 to 3.0 µm, more preferably 0.3 to 0.7 µm and an axial ratio of 2 to 20, preferably 3 to 10 , and the cubic or spherical particles used in the present invention are generally ones having an average diameter of 0.05 to 5.0 µm, preferably 0.1 to 5.0 µm, more preferably 0.2 to 1.0 µm. Regarding the hematite used as starting material for producing the iron oxide particles of the present invention, hematite particles having an average diameter of 0.3 to 0.4 µm usually assume a reddish purple color, and the hematite particles having an average diameter of 0.4 to 0.8 µm usually assume a dark purple color. Especially, the plate-like hematite particles may be either those occurring naturally or those obtained synthetically, generally being 0.5 to 100 µm in average diameter, 0.005 to 15 µm in thickness and 2 : 1-500 : 1 in aspect ratio. Plate-like hematite particles having an average diameter of 0.5 to 100 µm, a thickness of 0.3 to 15 µm and an aspect ratio of 2 : 1 to 500 : 1 usually assume a dark purple color. The plate-like hematite particles of 0.5 to 100 µm in average diameter, 0.05 to 0.3 µm in thickness and 2 : 1 to 500 : 1 in aspect ratio usually assume a reddish purple color. Especially, in the case of using plate-like hematite particles having an average diameter of 0.5 to 5.0 µm, a thickness of 50 to 500 Å and an aspect ratio of 50 : 1 to 500 : 1, the obtained iron oxide particles assume a golden yellow color and have a lightness L* of not less than 30, a hue ( ϑ = tan⁻¹ b*/a* ) of not less than 50° and a saturation C* (ab = √ a *2 + b *2 ) of not less than 17 (in the above formulae, L*, a* and b* are the values given in the CIE 1976 (L*, a*, b*) uniform sensory color space). The iron oxide particles of the present invention, coated with an oxide layer containing Si, Ti or Si and Ti, may be obtained by adding a Si-containing compound, a Ti-containing compound or a mixture thereof to a suspension containing the starting iron oxide particles, stirring the resultant solution so that an oxide layer, hydroxide layer or hydrate layer containing Si, Ti or Si and Ti is formed on the surface of each of the iron oxide particles, and subjecting the thus obtained coated iron oxide particles to filtration, washing with water and drying, and then calcining the thus obtained iron oxide particles at 400 to 800°C. The electroconductive iron oxide particles comprising iron oxide particles coated with an oxide layer containing Si, Ti or Si and Ti, and an SnO₂ containing Sb as a solid solution deposited on the surface of the oxide layer containing Si, Ti or Si and Ti preferably have a volume resistivity of not more than 5 x 10⁵ Ω-cm. The deposition of the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles on the surface of the iron oxide particles coated with the oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer containing Si, Ti or Si and Ti can be accomplished with high efficiency even if the iron oxide particles are very fine, especially not more than 0.2 µm, or even if the thickness of the plate-like hematite particles (when hematite particles as iron oxide particles are used) is very small, especially not more than 500 Å, since the oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer containing Si and/or Ti prevents the dissolution of Fe in the iron oxide particle by HCl generated in accordance with the hydrolysis of tin chloride or antimony chloride which is conducted for forming the SnO₂ hydrate. The Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles used in the present invention can be obtained by heating an alcohol solution or an aqueous solution of alcohol containing tin chloride (SnCl₄) and antimony chloride (SnCl₃) to not less than 70°C, preferably 70 to 75°C to hydrolyse the tin chloride. As an alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol may be exemplified. In the present invention, the aqueous suspension containing the iron oxide particles coated with a layer of Si and/or Ti oxide may be added and mixed with a separately prepared alcohol solution containing the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles, or an alcohol solution or an aqueous solution of alcohol containing tin chloride and antimony chloride may be added to the aqueous suspension containing the iron oxide particles maintained at not less than 70°C, preferably 70 to 75°C, thereby effecting the hydrolysis of tin chloride in the aqueous suspension to form and deposit the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles on the said coated iron oxide particles. In the present invention, deposition of the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles on the surface of the iron oxide particles coated with a layer of Si and/or Ti oxide can be effected by stirring and mixing up an aqueous suspension containing the iron oxide particles and the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles. Very uniform and solid deposition of the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles on the surfaces of the coated iron oxide particles can be attained especially when the pH of the aqueous suspension is adjusted to the range of 3 to 12, preferably 6 to 8 . In the present invention, substantially all of the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles added are deposited on the coated iron oxide particles. The Si-containing compound in the present invention may be, for example sodium silicate, potassium silicate or colloidal silica. Such Si-containing compounds are used for forming a Si-containing oxide layer on the surface of the iron oxide particle. The Ti-containing compound used in the present invention may be, for example titanium tetrachloride or titanyl oxysulfate. When titanium tetrachloride in an aqueous solution with a pH of not less than around neutral range is used, a Ti-containing hydroxide layer on the surface of the iron oxide particle is formed, and when titanyl oxysulfate by hydrolyzing it in an aqueous solution at a temperature of not less than around 90°C is used, a Ti-containing hydrate layer is formed on the surface of the iron oxide particle. In the present invention, substantially all of the Si- or Ti-containing compound used is formed as an Si- or Ti- containing oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer on the iron oxide particles. In the present invention, the iron oxide particles having formed on their surfaces the specific oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer may be calcined in the air by heating at a temperature of 200 to 1,000°C, preferably 300 to 600°C. This calcination provides a coating layer with better adhesiveness and turns the specific hydroxide or hydrate layer into an oxide layer. In the process of the present invention, the calcination temperature of the coated iron oxide particles having deposited on their surfaces the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles is in the range of 400 to 800°C, preferably 500 to 600°C. By this calcination, the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles deposited on the surfaces of the coated iron oxide particles are turned into the SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution, and the electric resistance of the particles becomes not more than 5 x 10⁶ Ω-cm. In view of electric resistance a temperature in the range of 500 to 600°C is especially preferred for the calcination in the present invention. The amount of Sb in the SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution in the process of the present invention is generally in the range of 0.1 to 40.0 % by weight based on the weight of SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution. In view of electric resistance, the preferred amount of Sb is 4.0 to 12.0 % by weight based on the weight of SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution. The amount of SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution in the present invention is typically in the range of 5.0 to 200 % by weight based on the weight of iron oxide particles. When the amount of SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution is less than 5 % by weight, no desired electric resistance-reducing effect is generally provided, making it unable to attain the object of the present invention. Use of SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution in excess of 200 % by weight, although allowing attainment of the object of the present invention, is meaningless as it can generally provide no extra effect. It is practically preferable to select the amount of SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution within the range of 10 to 100 % by weight. As to the amount of Si and the amount of Ti in the specific oxide layer, the amount of Si is generally from 1 to 100 % by weight, preferably 3 to 40 % by weight (calculated as SiO₂) based on the weight of iron oxide particles, and the amount of Ti is generally from 1 to 100 % by weight, preferably 3 to 40 % by weight (calculated as TiO₂) based on the weight of iron oxide particles. In the case that both Si and Ti are contained in the specific oxide layer, the combined amount thereof (Si + Ti) is typically 1 to 100 % by weight, preferably 3 to 40 % by weight (calculated as SiO₂ and TiO₂) based on the weight of iron oxide particles. The thus obtained electroconductive iron oxide particles of the present invention have an electric resistance less than 5 x 10⁶ Ω-cm, preferably less than 5 x 10⁵ Ω-cm, more preferably less than 5 x 10⁴ Ω-cm. The acicular electroconductive iron oxide particles of the present invention typically have an average diameter of major axis of 0.1 to 3.0 µm, preferably 0.2 to 3.0 µm, more preferably 0.3 to 0.7 µm. The cubic or spherical electroconductive iron oxide particles of the present invention typically have an average diameter of 0.05 to 5.0 µm, preferably 0.1 to 5.0 µm, more preferably 0.2 to 1.0 µm. The plate-like electro-conductive hematite particles of the present invention are ones typically having an average diameter of 0.5 to 100 µm, a thickness of 0.005 to 15 µm, and an aspect ratio of 2 : 1 to 500 : 1. Especially, the plate-like electroconductive hematite particles of the present invention having an average diameter of 0.5 to 5.0 µm, a thickness of 50 to 500 Å and an aspect ratio of 50 : 1 to 500 : 1, assume a golden yellow color which gives a sense of high grade. The electroconductive iron oxide particles of the present invention in which the SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution are deposited on the surface of the Si- and/or Ti- containing oxide layer coated on the surfaces of iron oxide particles selected from hematite and maghemite and which have a volume resistivity less than 5 x 10⁶ Ω cm, preferably less than 5 x 10⁵ Ω-cm, are excellent in stability and electroconductivity and have a beautiful chromatic color such as reddish to dark purple, golden yellow and liver brown so that these particles are suited for use as an antistatic material. Accordingly, the present invention also provides an antistatic material comprising a dispersion of the electroconductive iron oxide particles of the invention in a base material. The following Examples illustrate the present invention. The average diameter of the particles shown in the following Examples and Comparative Examples is the average of the diameters determined from the electron micrographs. The L* value (lightness), a* value and b* value were those determined by subjecting the respective samples to a colorimetry in a Hunter's Lab space by using a color machine CM-1500-A (made by Color Machine Co., Ltd.) and indicated according to the (L*, a*, b*) uniform sensory color space by the Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE), 1976. Hue and saturation were determined at ϑ = tan⁻¹b*/a* and C*ab = √ a*² + b*² , respectively. Each sample for measurement was prepared by mixing and kneading 0.5 g of iron oxide particles and 1.0 cc of castor oil by a Huber muller to form a paste, adding 4.5 g of clear lacquer to this paste and kneading them into coating material, and applying this coating material onto a cast coated paper by using a 6 mil applicator. Volume resistivity was determined by leaving the sample particles under the conditions of 25°C and 60% RH for 24 hours to stabilize them, then placing said particles between a pair of stainless electrodes to form a columnar test piece having an area of 2.57 cm² and a thickness of 2 mm, applying thereto a load of 1.2 kg so that the load pressure of said test piece portion would become 0.47 kg/cm², measuring the electric resistance between said pair of stainless electrodes by a Wheatstone Bridge Model 2768 (made by Yokogawa Hokushin Electric Co., Ltd.), and determing the volume resistivity (Ω) from the measured value of electric resistance according to the following formula: R: measured electric resistance (Ω) d: distance between electrodes (cm) S: electrode area Example 1 : To 2.0 litres of an aqueous suspension containing 25 g of cubic hematite particles of sample K (average diameter = 0.2 µm, L* = 34, hue = 47, saturation = 44, volume resistivity = 4 x 10⁸ Ω-cm) was added 8.8 g (corresponding to 10.0% by weight based on hematite particles) of #3 water glass (SiO₂: 28.55% by weight). The suspension was stirred for mixing it up and then added with hydrochloric acid to adjust the suspension pH to 7.0, thereby causing formation of an SiO₂ layer on the surfaces of said cubic hematite particles. A part of said suspension was filtered, washed with water and dried in the usual ways. Fluorescent X-ray analysis of the thus obtained cubic hematite particles showed that the amount of SiO₂ formed on the surfaces of the particles was 9.7% by weight based on cubic hematite particles. The aqueous suspension containing the cubic hematite particles having formed on their surfaces an SiO₂ layer was kept at 70°C for 30 minutes, and then 200 ml of an isobutyl alcohol solution containing 0.1 mol of SnCl₄ and 0.01 mol of SbCl₃ was added dropwise into said aqueous suspension under stirring, followed by the addition of NaOH for adjusting the suspension pH to 6.5, thereby causing deposition of the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles on the surface of said SiO₂ layer. The suspension containing the cubic hematite particles coated with an SiO₂ layer having deposited on its surface the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles was filtered, washed with water and dried according to the conventional methods and then calcined at 550°C for 1.0 hour. The calcined particles showed an L* value of 33, a hue of 46, a saturation of 43 and a volume resistivity of 3 x 10⁵ Ω-cm. Fluorescent X-ray analysis of the obtained particles showed that the amount of SnO₂ deposited on the surfaces of the particles was 58.0% by weight based on hematite particles, and the amount of Sb was 4.8% by weight based on SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution. From the result of X-ray diffraction which showed only the peaks associated with hematite and SnO₂, it was noted that Sb was contained in SnO₂ particle as a solid solution. Example 2 : To 2.0 litres of an aqueous suspension containing 25 g of cubic hematite particles of sample K (average diameter = 0.2 µm, L* = 34, hue = 47, saturation = 44, volume resistivity = 4 x 10⁸ Ω-cm) was added 12.3 g (corresponding to 20.0% by weight based on hematite particles) of titanyl sulfate. The solution was stirred, then heated and kept at 95°C for 60 minutes, followed by the addition of hydrochloric acid to adjust the pH to 7.0, thereby causing formation of a TiO₂ hydrate layer on the surface of each said cubic hematite particle. A part of said suspension was filtered, washed with water and dried by the ordinary methods. Fluorescent X-ray analysis of the thus obtained cubic hematite particles showed that the amount of TiO₂ in the TiO₂ hydrate formed on the surfaces of the particles was 19.8% by weight (calculated as TiO₂) based on cubic hematite particles. Separately, 0.5 litre of an ethanol solution containing 0.1 mol of SnCl₄ and 0.004 mol of SbCl₃ was kept at 75°C for 10 minutes to form the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles. Said ethanol solution containing the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles was added dropwise into the previously prepared aqueous suspension containing the cubic hematite particles having formed on their surfaces a TiO₂ hydrate layer while stirring said suspension, followed by the addition of KOH to adjust the suspension pH to 7.5, thereby causing deposition of the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles on the surface of said TiO₂ hydrate layer. The suspension containing the cubic hematite particles having deposited on their surfaces the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles was filtered, washed with water and dried according to the conventional methods and then calcined at 600°C for 2.0 hours. The calcined particles showed an L* value of 33, a hue of 48, a saturation of 43 and a volume resistivity of 4 x 10⁵ Ω-cm. Fluorescent X-ray analysis of the obtained particles showed that the amount of SnO₂ deposited on the surfaces of the particles was 56.0% by weight based on hematite particles and the amount of Sb was 2.0% by weight based on SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution. From the result of X-ray diffraction which showed only the peaks linked with hematite and SnO₂, it was noted that Sb was containined in SnO₂ as a solid solution. Examples 3 - 7 : The iron oxide particles having deposited on their Si- or Ti-containing or both Si- and Ti-containing oxide layer the SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution were obtained by following the same procedure as Example 1 except that the type of sample, kind and amount of Si-containing compound, kind and amount of Ti-containing compound, amount of Sn compound, amount of Sb compound, method and temperature of hydrolysis, and temperature and time of heat treatment were changed. The main producing conditions and the properties of the obtained particles are shown in Tables 1 and 3. X-ray diffraction of the iron oxide particles obtained in Examples 3 to 7 showed only the peaks associated with hematite or magnemite and SnO₂, indicating that Sb was contained in SnO₂ as a solid solution. Example 8 : To 2.0 litres of an aqueous suspension with a pH of 12.5 containing 50 g of plate-like hematite particles of sample P (average diameter = 2.4 µm, thickness = 0.018 µm, aspect ratio = 133 : 1, L* = 44.9, hue = 64.5, saturation = 27.5, volume resistivity = 2.0 x 10⁷ Ω-cm) was added 17.5 g (corresponding to 10.0% by weight based on hematite particles) of #3 water glass (SiO₂ : 28.55% by weight). The solution was stirred and added with hydrochloric acid to adjust its pH to 7.0, thereby causing formation of an SiO₂ layer on the surface of each hematite particle. A part of said suspension was filtered, washed with water and dried by the conventional methods. Fluorescent X-ray analysis of the obtained plate-like hematite particles showed that the amount of SiO₂ formed on the surfaces of the particles was 9.7% by weight based on plate-like hematite particles. Said aqueous suspension containing the plate-like hematite particles having an SiO₂ layer formed on their surfaces was kept at 70°C for 30 minutes, and then 200 ml of an isobutyl alcohol solution containing 0.1 mol of SnCl₄ and 0.01 mol of SbCl₃ was added dropwise into said aqueous suspension under stirring, followed by the addition of NaOH to adjust the solution pH to 6.5, thereby causing deposition of the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles on the surface of said SiO₂ layer. The suspension containing the plate-like hematite particles coated with said SiO₂ layer having deposited on its surface the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles was filtered, washed with water and dried by the conventional methods and then calcined at 550°C for 1.0 hour. The calcined particles assumed a golden yellow color (L* = 44.0, hue = 55.8, saturation = 27.0) and had a volume resistivity of 2 x 10⁵ Ω-cm. Fluorescent X-ray analysis of the obtained particles showed that the amount of SnO₂ deposited on the surfaces of the particles was 29.0% by weight based on hematite particles, and the amount of Sb was 2.4% by weight based on SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution. X-ray diffraction of the particle showed only the peaks of hematite and SnO₂, indicating that Sb was contained in SnO₂ as a solid solution. Example 9 : To 2.0 litres of an aqueous suspension containing 50 g of plate-like hematite particles of sample P (average diameter = 2.4 µm, thickness = 0.018 µm, aspect ratio = 133 : 1, L* = 44.9, hue = 64.5, saturation = 27.5, volume resistivity = 2.0 x 10⁷ Ω-cm) was added 24.5 g of titanyl sulfate (corresponding to 20.0% by weight based on hematite particle). The solution was stirred, heated and kept at 95°C for 60 minutes, followed by the addition of hydrochloric acid to adjust the suspension pH to 7.0, thereby causing formation of a TiO₂ hydrate layer on the surface of the particle. A part of said suspension was filtered, washed with water and dried by the conventional methods. Fluorescent X-ray analysis of the obtained particles showed that the amount of TiO₂ in the TiO₂ hydrate formed on the surfaces of the particles was 19.8% by weight (calculated as TiO₂) based on plate-like hematite particles. There was separately prepared 0.5 litre of an ethanol solution containing 0.1 mol of SnCl₄ and 0.004 mol of SbCl₃, and this solution was kept at 75°C for 10 minutes to form the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles. 500 ml of said ethanol solution was added dropwise to the previously prepared aqueous suspension containing the plate-like hematite particles having formed on their surface a TiO₂ hydrate layer while stirring said suspension, followed by the addition of KOH to adjust the pH to 7.5, thus effecting deposition of the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles on the surface of said TiO₂ hydrate layer. Said suspension containing the plate-like hematite particles having deposited on their surfaces the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles was filtered, washed with water and dried by the conventional methods and then calcined at 600°C for 2.0 hours. The calcined particles assumed a golden yellow color (L* = 43.0, hue = 53.4, saturation = 26.0) and had a volume resistivity of 3 x 10⁵ Ω-cm. Fluorescent X-ray analysis of the obtained particles showed that the amount of SnO₂ deposited on the surfaces of the particles was 28.0% by weight based on hematite particles, and the amount of Sb was 1.0% by weight based on SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution. From the result of X-ray diffraction which showed only the peaks of hematite and SnO₂, it was noted that Sn was contained in SnO₂ as a solid solution. Examples 10 - 14 : There were obtained the plate-like hematite particles having the SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution deposited on the Si- or Ti-containing or both Si- and Ti-containing oxide layer surface by following the same procedure as Example 8 except that the type of sample, kind and amount of Si-containing compound, kind and amount of Ti-containing compound, amount of Sn compound, amount of Sb compound, method and temperature of hydrolysis, and temperature and time of heat treatment were changed. The main producing conditions and the properties of the obtained particles are shown in Tables 5 and 6. X-ray diffraction of the plate-like hematite particles obtained in Examples 10 to 14 showed only the peaks of hematite and SnO₂, indicating that Sb was contained in SnO₂ as a solid solution.

Claims: Electroconductive iron oxide particles having a volume resistivity less than 5 x 10⁶ Ω-cm, and comprising (a) iron oxide particles which are selected from hematite and maghemite and which are coated with a layer of an oxide of Si and/or Ti. and (b) SnO₂ particles which contain Sb as a solid solution and which are deposited on the surface of said layer if Si and/or Ti oxide Electroconductive iron oxide particles according to claim 1, wherein the SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution are deposited in an amount of 5.0 to 200% by weight based on the iron oxide particles. Electroconductive iron oxide particles according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of Sb in the SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution is 0.1 to 40.0% by weight based on the SnO₂ particles containing Sb as a solid solution. Electroconductive iron oxide particles according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the iron oxide particles are plate-like hematite particles. Electroconductive iron oxide particles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of Si in the coating layer is 1 to 100% by weight (calculated as SiO₂) based on the iron oxide particles. Electroconductive iron oxide particles according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of Ti in the coating layer is 1 to 100% by weight (calculated as TiO₂) based on the iron oxide particles. Electroconductive iron oxide particles according to any one of the preceding claims having a volume resistivity less than 5 x 10⁵ Ω-cm. A process for producing electroconductive iron oxide particles as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which process comprises adding at least one compound containing Si and/or Ti to a suspension containing iron oxide particles; stirring the resultant suspension to form an oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer containing Si and/or Ti on the surface of the iron oxide particles; mixing the suspension containing iron oxide particles having formed on their surface an oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer containing Si and/or Ti with an aqueous suspension containing Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles; stirring the mixed suspension so that the Sb-containing SnO₂ hydrate particles are deposited on the surface of the oxide, hydroxide or hydrate layer containing Si and/or Ti; subjecting the thus obtained iron oxide particles to filtration, washing with water and drying; and then calcining the thus obtained iron oxide particles at a temperature of 400 to 800°C. An antistatic material comprising a dispersion of electroconductive iron oxide particles as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in a base material.

Inventors: HORIISHI NANAO, KATAMOTO TSUTOMU, KURATA TOKIHIRO, HORIISHI, NANAO, KATAMOTO, TSUTOMU, KURATA, TOKIHIRO
Applicants: TODA KOGYO CORP, TODA KOGYO CORP.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H01B1
IPC codes: H01B1, C08K9, C09C1