Gravitational stability of suspensions of attractive colloidal particles.
Colloidal suspensions are susceptible to gravitationally induced phase separation. This can be mitigated by the formation of a particle network caused by depletion attraction. The effectiveness of this network in supporting the buoyant weight of the suspension can be characterized by its compressional modulus. We measure the compressional modulus for emulsion networks induced by depletion attraction and present a model that quantitatively predicts their gravitational stability. We also determine the relationship between the strength of the depletion attraction and the magnitude of the compressional modulus.
Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
Chanjoong
C
Kim
Yaqian
Y
Liu
Angelika
A
Kühnle
Stephan
S
Hess
Sonja
S
Viereck
Thomas
T
Danner
L
L
Mahadevan
David A
DA
Weitz
D000327:Adsorption; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004058:Diffusion; D006112:Gravitation; D008823:Micelles; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010316:Particle Size; D010539:Permeability; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013535:Suspensions; D013997:Time Factors
D003102:Colloids; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D013535:Suspensions