Adhesion of Fine Particles at Solid/Solution Interfaces

Abstract

The adhesion of particles at solid surfaces in liquid media has attracted the attention of scientists because of its various applications as well as the theoretical significance of the processes involved. Early studies were characterized either by poorly defined systems or limited by the properties of a few morphologically well-defined model colloids, such as latex dispersions. Consequently, results were either of semiquantitative nature or were related to some specific cases, which eluded general conclusions. New methods for preparing uniform particles of different compositions, shapes, and sizes make it possible to approach the problem in a more comprehensive manner. For example, to demonstrate difficulties caused by polydispersity, it is sufficient to mention that the electrostatic interaction energy between a plane surface and a particle is approximately proportional to the particle radius, yet the rate of deposition depends exponentially on the height of the energy barrier.In principle, static and dynamic approaches may be employed in the study of particle adhesion. The static method yields the force required to detach an adhered particle, while kinetic investigations of attachment and detachment give the rates of the respective processes. Both methods offer information on the stability of the system in terms of the bond strength of adhered solids. For small colloid particles, which are the subject of thermal random Brownian motion, the dynamic approach is more appropriate. This article emphasizes the kinetics of deposition and detachment of small colloid particles in liquid media.