Phase transitions at interfaces: Flocculation of charge stabilised colloids in liquid mixtures

Kumar, A and Beysens, D (1996) Phase transitions at interfaces: Flocculation of charge stabilised colloids in liquid mixtures. In: Physica A: Statistical and Theoretical Physics, 224 (1-2). pp. 68-73.

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Abstract

An intriguing phenomenon of reversible flocculation of charge-stabilised colloids in liquid mixtures is described. Some recent results concerning the shape of the flocculation surface, especially near special critical points (e.g. a double critical point, DCP), are also discussed. The findings regarding the kinetics of aggregation/fragmentation have been reviewed. The theoretical efforts behind the mechanism of this phenomenon (e.g. prewetting, capillary condensation, adsoprtion-driven secondary minimum in the interparticle DLVO potential, Casimir forces, etc.) are outlined. The role of special critical points (e.g. a DCP or a quadruple critical point, QCP) in elucidating several key features of the above phenomenon is underlined. Several challenging problems in this emerging area that demand attention, are pointed out.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Physica A: Statistical and Theoretical Physics
Publisher:	Elsevier
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	30 Jun 2008
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:37
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/10720

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