title: Elasticity and critical bending moment of model colloidal aggregates.
abstract: The bending mechanics of singly bonded colloidal aggregates are measured using laser tweezers. We find that the colloidal bonds are capable of supporting significant torques, providing a direct measurement of the tangential interactions between particles. A critical bending moment marks the limit of linear bending elasticity, past which small-scale rearrangements occur. These mechanical properties underlie the rheology and dynamics of colloidal gels formed by diffusion-limited cluster aggregation, and give critical insight into the contact interactions between Brownian particles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Colburn Laboratory, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pantina
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Furst