Microstructure, local dynamics, and flow behavior of colloidal suspensions with weak attractive interactions.

ABSTRACT: We present a comprehensive micro- and macrorheological study of the effect of weak depletion attraction (Ψ_dep ≈ 1-10 k_BT) on dense colloidal suspensions stabilized by short-range repulsive interactions. We used aqueous polymer dispersions as model system and demonstrated the unique capabilities of multiple particle tracking (MPT) to disclose structural changes in such technically important systems exhibiting many characteristic features of hard sphere systems. Below the hard sphere freezing point ϕ_c, viscosity increases monotonically with increasing Ψ_dep due to the transition from a fluid to a fluid/crystalline and finally to a gel state. Above ϕ_c, increasing attraction strength first results in a viscosity reduction corresponding to t

SUBMITTER: Weis C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5031965 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature