The shear yield stress of alumina suspensions was measured by the vane tool technique, as a function
of high concentration of various counterions. Slurries at pHs below the isoelectric point were coagulated
with the sodium salts of IO3
-, BrO3
-, Cl-, NO3
-, and ClO4
-. Structure maker ions (IO3
- and BrO3
-)
produced the strongest particle networks, while structure breaker ions (ClO4
-, NO3
-, and Cl-) produced
weaker networks. Electrokinetic results (ζ potentials) suggest the structure makers adsorb inside the
shear plane in greater quantities and are thus more efficient in collapsing the double layer. The high yield
stresses in the case of IO3
- cannot be fully explained by the concept of truncating the van der Waals
attraction at a distance related to the size of the ion. When the possibility of either an additional attraction
or a closer distance of approach is considered, the results can be adequately explained. Similar results were
observed for zirconia.