Abstract
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spheres suspended in benzyl alcohol are found to swell to more than two times that of their dry radius and have been observed to undergo an equilibrium phase transition from liquid to crystalline structure with increasing concentration. The width of the coexistence region is found to be narrower by nearly half compared to simulation results for hard sphere systems. Comparison of the measured freezing point and fractional density change upon melting with those calculated from soft sphere simulations are consistent with a purely repulsive interparticle potential on the order of 1/r20. Analysis of powder pattern scattering profiles from samples in the crystallized region of the equilibrium phase diagram indicates crystallites made up of a registered random stacking of hexagonal close packed planes, similar to that found in monodisperse suspensions of hard spheres. With the application of oscillatory shear, nonequilibrium microstructures similar to those found in model hard sphere systems have been observed in these suspensions.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.