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Non-equilibrium behaviour of colloid-polymer mixtures

Author

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  • Poon, W.C.K.
  • Pirie, A.D.
  • Haw, M.D.
  • Pusey, P.N.

Abstract

Moderate concentrations of a small non-adsorbing polymer cause a suspension of colloidal particles to phase-separate into coexisting colloidal fluid and crystal via the ‘depletion’ mechanism. At higher polymer concentrations, crystallization is suppressed, and a variety of non-equilibrium aggregation behaviour is observed. We report the results of small-angle laser light scattering studies of aggregation in a model system - colloidal PMMA + polystyrene. In all cases, ‘rings’ in the small-angle scattering are observed. The different temporal behaviour of these small-angle scattering rings allowed us to classify the non-equilibrium region into three regimes, ‘nucleation-like’, ‘spinodal-like’ and ‘transient gelation’. It is suggested that non-equilibrium behaviour is ‘switched on’ by a hidden, metastable gas-liquid binodal. Different regimes of aggregation behaviour are controlled by the nucleation-spinodal cross-over and the transient percolation lines within this binodal.

Suggested Citation

  • Poon, W.C.K. & Pirie, A.D. & Haw, M.D. & Pusey, P.N., 1997. "Non-equilibrium behaviour of colloid-polymer mixtures," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 235(1), pages 110-119.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:235:y:1997:i:1:p:110-119
    DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(96)00332-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haw, M.D. & Poon, W.C.K. & Pusey, P.N., 1994. "Structure factors from cluster-cluster aggregation simulation at high concentration," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 208(1), pages 8-17.
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