Wetting reversal in colloid-polymer systems.
The wetting of a phase-separated colloid-polymer mixture in contact with a hard wall is analyzed using free volume theory in a Nakanishi-Fisher-type approach. We present results for the wetting phase diagram for several model approximations. Our analysis is compared with a previous analysis by Aarts [J. Chem. Phys. 120, 1973 (2004)]. We find that there is a crossover from wetting to drying at a threshold value for the colloid-polymer size ratio and that the transitions are close to the critical point and of second order in nature.
Blokhuis
Edgar M
EM
Leiden Institute of Chemistry, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Kuipers
Joris
J
D000465:Algorithms; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics; D017155:Wettability
D003102:Colloids; D011108:Polymers