Nano-Y2O3 was prepared by the precipitation method with polyvinyl alcohol as dispersant
and the nano-Y2O3was modified by stearic acid.Surface morphology, microstructure and lipophilic performance of nano-Y2O3 and modified nano-Y2O3 were characterized by XRD,IR,TG-DTA and TEM.The results showed that the phase and grain size of Y2O3 did not change after modification
and a covalent bond was formed between the hydroxyl of Y2O3 surface and carboxyl of stearic acid. An organic coating was formed on nano-Y2O3 and the polarity of nano-Y2O3 was changed from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity.The lipophilic degree of modified nano-Y2O3 powder was up to 70.79%
under the condition of mass ratio of nano-Y2O3 to stearic acid 10∶2