Dispersions in Non-Aqueous Media

Abstract

This paper describes work whose main objective is to further understanding of the factors which determine the stability of dispersions in non-aqueous media, and later to examine the influence of these factors on other properties of such dispersions. The study originated in the following way. Some dozen years ago the Colloid Science Panel of the Science Research Council, SRC, (now the Science and Engineering Research Council) consulted Sir Sam Edwards about the contributions which theoretical physicists such as himself might make to colloid science. His reaction, after some thought, was that so long as colloid chemists concentrated their attention on aqueous colloids little help would be forthcoming. He explained that, at that time, while there were sound theories of simple liquids such as argon, it would be two generations of computers hence before aqueous solutions could be handled with the same precision. This we took as a challenge issued to experimentalists by theoreticians: prepare colloidal dispersions in liquid argon, and then come back to us! We have not quite achieved this target, although we have come close to it.