Aggregation kinetics of monodisperse silica sol in aqueous NaCl solutions

Abstract

Aggregation kinetics of monodisperse silica sol (with particle size of 250 nm) in aqueous NaCl solutions at pH 2.0 and 3.0 were studied by the method of flow ultramicroscopy. Slow sol coagulation was found to proceed according to a barrierless mechanism in subsequent potential minimum, caused by the predominance of attraction dispersion forces over the forces of structure repulsion at relatively large distances between particles.