Aggregation of model gels with directional interactions

Abstract

We analyze connectivity and space-filling properties of colloidal gels obtained in a modelwith directional interactions. We compare gels formed upon slow cooling with the onesproduced via quenching. The aggregation process is qualitatively different upon quenching:the cluster size distribution shows a percolation type of behavior but not the fullyconnected network achieved upon slow cooling. Because quenching favors the formation ofdefects, differently from systems where quenching tends to produce lower local connectivityand more open structures, here it favors instead more connected, but less space-filling,structures.