Repulsive Hydration Forces Research Articles

Ion Correlations Decrease Particle Aggregation Rate by Increasing Hydration Forces at Interfaces.

The connection between solution structure, particle forces, and emergent phenomena at solid-liquid interfaces remains ambiguous. In this case study on boehmite aggregation, we established a connection between interfacial solution structure, emerging hydration forces between two approaching particles, and the resulting structure and kinetics of particle aggregation. In contrast to expectations from continuum-based theories, we observed a nonmonotonic dependence of the aggregation rate on the concentration of sodium chloride, nitrate, or nitrite, decreasing by 15-fold in 4 molal compared to 1 molal solutions. These results are accompanied by an increase in repulsive hydration forces and interfacial oscillatory features from 0.27-0.31 nm in 0.01 molal to 0.38-0.52 nm in 2 molal. Moreover, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicated that these changes correspond to enhanced ion correlations near the interface and produced loosely bound aggregates that retain electrolyte between the particles. We anticipate that these results will enable the prediction of particle aggregation, attachment, and assembly, with broad relevance to interfacial phenomena.

Impact of temperature and salinity on fines detachment: AFM measurements and XDLVO theory

Fine particle detachment and subsequent migration can lead to severe pore plugging and consequent permeability decline. Therefore, it is crucial to quantify the critical condition when fine particle detachment occurs. The frequently observed deviations or even contradictions between experimental results and theoretical predictions of fines detachment arise from an insufficient understanding of adhesion force that can be highly influenced by salinity and temperature. To clarify the intrinsic influence of salinity and temperature on fines detachment, adhesion forces between carboxyl microspheres and hydrophilic silica substrates in an aqueous medium were measured at various salinities and temperatures using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM-measured adhesion force decreases with increasing salinity or temperature. Trends of mean measured adhesion forces with temperature and salinity were compared with the DLVO and XDLVO theories. DLVO theory captured the trend with temperature via the impact of temperature on electric double layer interactions, whereas XDLVO theory captured the observed trend with salinity via the impact of salinity on the repulsive hydration force. Our results highlight the significance of hydration force in accurately predicting the fate of fines in porous media.

Elevated temperature effects (T > 100 °C) on the interfacial water and microstructure swelling of Na-montmorillonite

Montmorillonite-based barriers are key elements of the engineered barrier systems (EBS) in geological disposal facilities (GDF). Their performance at temperatures above 100 °C is not sufficiently understood to assess the possibility of raising the temperature limits in GDF designs that could reduce construction costs and CO2 footprint. The present work provides new fundamental insights through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of Na-montmorillonite's water-clay interactions and swelling pressure at temperatures 298–500 K and basal spacings of 1.5–3.5 nm. At temperatures above 100 °C, the swelling behaviour is governed by the attractive van der Waals force and the repulsive hydration force instead of the repulsive electrostatic (double layer) force. The swelling pressure reduction with increasing temperature is related to the weakened hydration repulsion and electric double layer repulsion, which result from the deterioration of the interlayer water layer structure and the shrinkage of the electric double layer. The applicability and breakdown of the classic Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory at elevated temperatures are examined. By excluding the osmotic contribution in the DLVO theory, the summation of the van der Waals interaction in DLVO and an additional non-DLVO hydration interaction can predict our MD system's swelling under high temperatures. The findings of this study provide a fundamental understanding of the swelling behaviour and the underlying molecular-level mechanisms of the clay microstructure under extreme conditions.

Insight on the mechanism of hexagonal pyrrhotite depression by starch during flotation

Polysaccharides such as gelatinized starch have been largely employed to depress specific minerals during froth flotation. In this study, two samples of caustic gelatinized starch (paste starches) with different molecular weights (MW) were used as depressants for hexagonal pyrrhotite. There is an increasing interest in finding more environmentally friendly strategies to depress hexagonal pyrrhotite since this mineral is one major gangue minerals in nickeferrous ore deposits, for instance. The mechanism of adsorption of paste starches on hexagonal pyrrhotite was evaluated by different techniques. Equilibrium adsorption tests suggested that the adsorption is dependent on the depressant molecular weight if it is used in high concentrations. The sequence of conditioning also showed to be relevant. Pre-adsorbed collector highly influenced the adsorption of higher MW paste starch. Langmuir and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) model fittings of adsorption data in combination with Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) results demonstrated a looser packing density of the higher MW paste starch. This conformation provides more room for water molecules within this depressant’s chains. Since trapped water molecules may generate a repulsive hydration force to air bubbles near the mineral surface, pyrrhotite conditioned with the high MW paste starch showed a lower flotation recovery. Higher hydration levels of the higher MW paste starch were also proven by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tests, and indirectly quantified in the contact angle measurements (Washburn method). Although the higher MW paste starch adsorbs less, this depressant still provides a higher surface wettability. This study has reinforced the importance in considering the molecular size of a polysaccharide for sulfide mineral depression.

Interaction force mechanism for the improvement of reclaimed soil aggregate stability in abandoned homestead by different organic-inorganic soil conditioners

Reasonable application of organic-inorganic soil conditioners can effectively improve the structure and fertility of reclaimed soil in abandoned homestead. Aggregate stability is an important indicator to evaluate soil structure and fertility, and is largely influenced by soil internal forces (van der Waals attractive force, electrostatic repulsive force, hydration repulsive force) and particle surface properties. However, there are few studies on the influence of different soil conditioners on the reclaimed soil internal forces and its relationship with the aggregate stability. Therefore, we selected six different treatments of organic fertilizer (TO), fly ash (TF), maturing agent (TM), maturing agent + organic fertilizer (TMO), fly ash + organic fertilizer (TFO) and control (CK) to conduct a 5-year field experiment to study the effects of reclaimed soil particle interaction forces and surface characteristics on aggregate stability under the treatment of different soil conditioners. The results showed that with the application of soil conditioners, the soil organic matter (SOM), specific surface area (SSA), surface charge (σ0), cation exchange capacity (CEC), aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and Hamaker constant increased gradually, while the pH value decreased slightly. In particular, the MWD under the treatments of TFO and TMO increased by 150.3% and 65.6% respectively compared with that under the CK treatment. With the increasing application of soil conditioners, the electrostatic repulsive force and van der Waals attractive force between reclaimed soil particles increased constantly, but the net resultant force between particles decreased and the net attractive force increased continuously, thus improving the aggregate stability. Therefore, there is a significant negative correlation between the net resultant force among reclaimed soil particles and MWD and CEC. In addition, 10−2 mol L-1 is the critical concentration that affects the reclaimed soil internal force, and the organic-inorganic treatments of TFO and TMO can improve the net resultant force better. In a word, the particle interaction forces are important factors affecting the reclaimed soil structural stability, and this study provides a scientific reference for the rational selection of soil conditioners and its interaction force mechanism in the reclaimed soil improvement.

Adsorption of poly(oxyethylene) and hydroxyl group-containing nonionic surfactants on silica particles in NH4OH solution and its effect on the interaction force with Si surface

In the semiconductor manufacturing processes, surface cleaning is one of the most critical steps because particle contamination directly affects device yield. In addition, surface etching and oxidation should be minimized during the particle removal process. In this study, the dissolved oxygen concentration (DOC) in an NH4OH solution was reduced to suppress oxidation of Si. Additionally, nonionic surfactants were added to the solution to suppress the Si surface roughening and improve the particle removal efficiency in the NH4OH solution. Nonionic surfactant molecules were adsorbed on the Si surface, preventing the Si surface from attack by OH-. In addition, they were also adsorbed on the silica particle surfaces, producing repulsive hydration and osmotic forces between the adsorbed surfaces of the Si and silica particles while reducing the adhesion force between them. As a result, more than 95 % of particle removal efficiency and less than 0.6 nm of surface roughness were obtained when the particle-contaminated Si surface was treated with a low-DOC NH4OH solution containing a nonionic surfactant.

Solution Structure and Hydration Forces between Mica and Hydrophilic Versus Hydrophobic Surfaces

Solid–liquid interfaces are central to a range of interesting phenomena including colloidal aggregation, crystallization by particle attachment, catalysis, heterogeneous nucleation, water desalination, and biomolecular assembly. While three-dimensional atomic force microscopy (3D AFM) has emerged as a technique for resolving interfacial solution structure at the molecular scale, key challenges for data interpretation persist, most notably regarding the influence of the probe on the measured structure. Using the mica–water system as a case study, we investigate the effect of hydrophilic and hydrophobic probes on interfacial solution structure measured by 3D AFM. Data from hydrophilic silicon-based probes are in good agreement with molecular dynamics simulations, wherein the innermost water molecules adsorb preferentially at the surface ditrigonal cavity sites, followed by two additional ordered hydration layers. In contrast, the hydrophobic carbon-based probes detect vertical oscillatory features but do not show lateral patterning that matches the underlying mica lattice. At high ionic strength, up to six of these oscillatory features are observed extending 2 nm into the solution phase with an average spacing of 0.29 ± (0.04) nm. We also determine that the repulsive hydration force between mica and the hydrophilic probe depends on the nature and concentration of ions in solution. Specifically, solutions with stronger ion–water and ion–ion interactions produce a stronger repulsive hydration force as the probe approaches the surface. Based on these observations, we present a scheme for controlling the outcomes of particle aggregation and attachment by varying the solution conditions to tune the hydration force.

The role of NaOH in the hydrothermal dehydrochlorination of polyvinyl chloride

The role of NaOH in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) dehydrochlorination was studied over a concentration range that yielded the maximum reaction rate. In addition to limiting autocatalysis through HCl scavenging, NaOH also influences the physicochemical evolution of PVC during hydrothermal treatment. In 3 M NaOH, the dechlorination rate peaked because NaOH effectively prevented particle agglomeration and autocatalysis. This is attributed to the action of sodium cations in producing short-range hydration repulsive forces that prevent the adhesion of particles and facilitate significant size reduction. The apparent activation energy was 138 ± 3.0 kJmol−1. In 2 M NaOH, particle agglomeration and pronounced autocatalysis reduced the activation energy to 105 ± 7.2 kJmol−1. Therefore, NaOH influences both the morphological evolution and dechlorination reaction kinetics.

Constructing reduced porous graphene oxide for tailoring mass-transfer channels in ultrathin MXene (Ti3C2Tx) membranes for efficient dye/salt separation

Two-dimensional (2D) membranes such as graphene oxide (GO) and MXene have attracted increasing interest in water purification. Critical challenges that impede their performance in separation applications include poor stability (swelling), low mass-transfer rate (high tortuosity), and an unavoidable trade-off between permeability and selectivity. Herein, we propose an effective multidimensional channel design strategy for preparing high-performance 2D composite membranes, featuring robust and abundant mass transfer channels. Specifically, reduced porous GO (rPGO) with high-density nanopores (size: ca. 14.7 nm, density: ca. 2.2 × 1014 m−2) and a few oxygen-containing functional groups were rationally designed and then deployed as multifunctional intercalators in MXene interlayers (rPGO-MXene, rPGM) to construct highly permeable, in-plane nanochannels and stable and tunable interlayer sieve channels. The intercalation of tailorable rPGO provides additional transport channels and weakens the interlayer repulsive hydration force, yielding composite membranes with remarkably enhanced water permeability and anti-swelling properties. As a result, the optimized membrane (10 % rPGM) exhibited an outstanding water permeability of 198.8 L m−2h−1 bar−1, 100 % rejection of Congo red, 5.3 % rejection of NaCl, and satisfactory stability (30 h) under cross-flow separation conditions. This study provides an innovative and facile approach for designing robust 2D membranes with abundant permeable nanochannels for highly efficient and precise molecular separation.

Fouling characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose during cross-flow microfiltration: Insights from fluid dynamic gauging and molecular dynamics simulations

The fouling behaviour of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles on polyethersulfone (PES) membranes was investigated using fluid dynamic gauging (FDG) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Experimental cross-flow microfiltration (MF) of a dilute MCC suspension at 400 mbar transmembrane pressure using 0.45 μm PES membranes revealed an estimated fouling layer thickness of 616 ± 5 μm for both fouled and re-fouled membranes at an applied shear stress of 37 ± 2 Pa. A decline in pure water flux was observed after each membrane cleaning and flushing procedure, indicating that highly resilient layers were formed close to the membrane surface. A possible explanation for the formation of resilient cellulose layers was obtained through MD simulations of the free energy profiles, which predicted deep energy minima at close interparticle separations of the cellulose–cellulose and cellulose–PES systems. The consequence of this energy minima is that attractive and repulsive forces are in balance at a specific distance between the particles, suggesting high binding energy at close interparticle distances. This implies that a certain force is needed to remove the layer or redisperse the cellulose particles. MD simulations also suggested that contributions made by repulsive hydration forces negatively influenced the adsorption of cellulose particles onto the PES membrane. These results highlight how experimental FDG measurements, when complemented with MD simulations, can provide insights into the fouling behaviour of an organic model material during cross-flow filtration.

Cover crop root-derived organic carbon influences aggregate stability through soil internal forces in a clayey red soil

Soil aggregate stability is influenced by soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the influence of SOC from different fall/winter cover crop roots (annual and perennial crops) on aggregate stability through soil internal forces (SIFs) (electrostatic repulsive force (Perf), van der Waals attractive force (Pvdw), and surface hydration repulsive force (Ph)) remains unclear. The objectives of this study were compare three fall/winter cover crops (lucerne, rapeseed, six-year-vetiver (Vet_6Y)) and two control (fallow and fallow with SOC removal (fallow-SOC-R)) to determine SOC effects red soil aggregation through SIFs. Plant root morphological and chemical traits, SOC properties, soil surface charge properties, soil internal forces and aggregate breakdown were all determined. The perennial crop (Vet_6Y) showed the highest root number density (0.21 counts cm−2), second highest root mass density (1.80 mg cm−3), and the lowest root lignin/cellulose ratio (0.69), and thus contributed to higher SOC content and SOC functional groups (mainly polysaccharide-C) than annual crops (rapeseed and lucerne). Such SOC traits in perennial vetiver resulted in a higher specific surface area (SSA), lower surface charge density and surface charge number (Qs) compared to annual crops (rapeseed and lucerne) and controls, and the relationship between the root, SOC and soil surface properties (i.e., SSA) was further confirmed by significant correlation (r ranging from 0.76 to 0.97). Ultimately, these soil surface charge properties after cover crops increased Pvdw, decreased Perf, and thus decreased repulsive net force (Pnet) (the sum of Pvdw, Perf, and Ph) and the average repulsive net force displayed in order of fallow-SOC-R (2.77 MPa) > fallow (2.11 MPa) > lucerne (2.02 MPa) > rapeseed (1.78 MPa) > Vet_6Y (1.45 MPa) at a distance of 1 nm. This resulted in the mass percentage of released small particles (<20, <10, and <2 µm) w (<d) % from aggregate being reduced after cover crops compared to controls. Generally, clayey red soil aggregate stability can be improved by decreasing the repulsive soil Pnet through cover crop root contribution to SOC and SOC-functional groups.

Bilayers as Basic Formation of Epimolecular Structure of Mostly Lyotropic (Hydrotropic) Structuralized Liquid Systems Being Influenced Predominantly by the Temperature

The bilayer’s formations of amphiphilic molecules or polyions of different ionogenity comprise the basic building units of most organic biological and non-biological systems. A theory has evolved to explain their behaviour during the creation of those organized structures, such as anisotropic liquid crystal (LC) in lyotropic (especially hydrotropic) systems and polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) assemblies. Particular attention has been paid to the temperature and the important role of water in the formation and behaviour of the bilayers. A novel insight into the formation of hydrotropic liquid LC systems and their thermotropic behaviour is presented. In this context, the systems PEM assemblies are also discussed. Essentially, a structuralised form of water fills out continuous and discontinuous, i.e., confined, nano-spaces among hydrophilic interfaces of bilayers, controlling their supramolecular structure through a system of attractive and repulsive hydration forces. The character of those sophisticated bonding hydration systems is predestined by the composition and type of these hydrophilic interface groups. The miscellaneous complexity of the bilayer’s aqueous systems suggests the need to study these examples in greater detail. Therefore, the bilayer’s processes connected with disruption as far as destruction of bilayers are mentioned, i.e., the processes with the highest potential to combat bacteria, fungi, and viruses, such as in a situation where a person exhales a breath of micro-droplets containing virus nanoparticles (e.g., the COVID-19 virus).

Comparative Study of Lipid- and Polymer-Supported Membranes Obtained by Vesicle Fusion

We compare the fusion of giant lipid and block-copolymer vesicles on glass and poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrates. Both types of vesicles are similar in their ability to fuse to hydrophilic substrates and form patches with distinct heart or circular shapes. We use epifluorescence/confocal microscopy and atomic force microscopy on membrane patches to (i) characterize bilayer fluidity and patch-edge stability and (ii) follow the intermediate stages in the formation of continuous supported bilayers. Polymer membranes show much lower membrane fluidity and, unlike lipids, an inability of adjacent patches to fuse spontaneously into continuous membranes. We ascribe this effect to hydration repulsion forces acting between the patch edges, which can be diminished by increasing the sample temperature. We show that large areas of supported polymer membranes can be created by fusing giant vesicles on glass or poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrates and annealing their edges.

Comparative analysis of membrane fouling mechanisms induced by colloidal polymer: Effects of sodium and calcium ions

Polymer (anionic polyacrylamide, APAM) flooding produced wastewater has a relatively high degree of mineralization and abundant ionic species. A comprehensive and systematic investigation of the influence of ion identity on APAM-induced membrane fouling is extremely necessary but has not been conducted to date.A comparative investigation was performed herein to reveal the underlying mechanisms of the influence of Na+ and Ca2+ (1000 mg/L) on APAM-induced membrane fouling in the adsorption and microfiltration (MF) processes.Na+ and Ca2+ exhibited contrasting influences on the filtration efficiency, cleaning efficiency, and fouling resistance. Compared to Na+, Ca2+ promoted reversible fouling and the formation of a loose cake layer; moreover, a higher removal rate and flux recovery were achieved. Additionally, simulations based on adsorption kinetic and membrane fouling models, and a series of microscopic analyses were performed to validate the contradictory influences. During the APAM-based MF process, the membrane fouling was effectively mitigated at the applied ionic strength because of the stronger hydration repulsive force generated by hydrated Ca2+ compared to that by Na+. This study provides vital guidance for membrane fouling control in the microfiltration of polymer flooding produced wastewater.

Study of soil expansion characteristics in rainfall-induced red-bed shallow landslides: Microscopic and macroscopic perspectives.

The main cause of rainfall-induced red-bed shallow landslides is the tendency of red-bed weathered soil to expand when it meets water. However, studies on the expansion mechanism of expansive soil have not considered the effects of hydration and particle orientation. In this study, the hydration force of soil was determined according to the electric double-layer theory, the particle direction of soil was determined by analyzing images of soil obtained by scanning electron microscopy, and, finally, a microscopic model of the electrical double layer of red-bed weathered expansive soil was established in which the hydration force and soil-particle orientation were taken into account. The results showed that the expansion of red-bed weathered expansive soil is the result of hydration forces and repulsive forces in the electric double layer. The grain orientation of the soil strongly influenced the microscopic model. The unloading expansion rate of red-bed weathered expansive soil decreased with an increase in cation concentration and a decrease in pH value. It increased with an increase in the hydration cation radius. These experiments indicate the reliability of the microscopic model and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of rainfall-induced red-bed shallow landslides.

Bioinspired double self-adhesion coating based on dopamine, coating resin and phosphorylcholine for surface lubrication and antifouling functionalization

ABSTRACT Implanted medical devices that have poor friction property or biofilm formation can limit their service life and cause discomfort in patients. Recently, some zwitterionic coatings have been studied to modify the biomaterials surface for lubricating function, but the grafting methods of coatings are complicated and also seldom take the bacterial antiadhesion property into account at the same time. In our studies, motivated by the properties of nature mussels and human articular, we firstly successfully synthesized double adhesion protection of self-adhesive ternary polymer coating and achieved the excellent lubrication and antifouling functionalization of the medical devices surface. In details, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and the water contact angles could characterize the successful modification on the surface of titanium substrate. Additionally, the tribological tests carried out by atomic force microscope verified the ternary polymer could enhance the lubrication property owing to the hydration lubrication mechanism. Meanwhile, it also possessed the bacterial antiadhesion property for the initial 24 h attributed to the hydration repulsive force. We believe that, as a simple and universal preparation method, the ternary polymer could make a great significance for improving the surface function of biomaterials and alleviating patients’ discomfort.

Comparison of different methods for assessing effects of soil interparticle forces on aggregate stability

Soil interparticle forces, involving in van der Waalsattractive force, and surface hydration and electrostatic repulsive forces, greatly influence the soil aggregate stability. However, current studies on methods for evaluating the impact of soil interparticle forces in aggregate stability are scarce. This research was aimed to examine the impact of soil interparticle forces on aggregate stability using diverse methods for different soil types. Soil aggregate stability was tested through the pipette method, wet sieving, and rainfall simulation, respectively characterized by aggregate stability index (ASI), mean weight diameter (MWD), and splash erosion mass (SE). Soil interparticle forces were adjusted by the changing concentrations of NaCl solution. The results showed that all three approaches can be applied to study the impact of soil interparticle forces on aggregate stability. The ASI, MWD, and SE showed little change below 10−2 mol L−1 NaCl concentration and then ASI and MWD increased at a high rate above 10−2 mol L−1 concentration of NaCl, while the SE showed the opposite trend. These results were as expected for soil interparticle forces. Moreover, for a single soil, a substantial correlation existed between the aggregate stability indicators obtained from three methods. However, the order of soil aggregate stability, measured by three methods were varied among soil types. Our results suggest that a single method cannot be applied to determine the aggregate stability of all soil types even if the breakdown mechanism was identical, because organic matter content and particle size distribution of soil are important factors influencing aggregate stability. Hence, in order to compare the difference in aggregate stability between various soils, multiple methods should be considered to investigate the impact of interparticle forces of soil on its aggregate stability. If a single method was to be chosen, wet sieving may be a good choice as it was not only relatively simple and time-saving but also reflected more comprehensive information about sizes and amount of fragments released from soil aggregates.

Stable graphene oxide-halloysite composite membrane with enhanced permeability for efficient dye desalination

Owing to the excellent physical and chemical properties of graphene oxide (GO), GO-based composite membranes have emerged as efficient filters for wastewater treatment. However, less attention has been paid to GO-based composite membranes for dye desalination. Furthermore, because of the repulsive hydration force between adjacent GO nanosheets and the narrow interlayer spacing, GO-based membranes face challenges of stability and permeability. In this study, a novel GO membrane was successfully prepared via intercalation of halloysite nanotubes modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (A-HNTs) by vacuum filtration. The A-HNTs engineered the connection between the GO nanosheets through electrostatic interactions and chemical bonds. Simultaneously, the A-HNTs acted as spacers to enlarge the interlayer distance of the composite membranes, thus providing a continuous pathway for water and salts. The A-HNTs/GO composite membrane showed satisfactory stability and water permeability (159.40 L∙m−2∙h−1). In addition, the prepared membrane effectively separated dyes and salts (17.02% for Na2SO4, 15.24% for MgSO4, 8.86% for NaCl, 5.13% for MgCl2, 92.98% for methyl orange, 92.86% for methylene blue, 93.21% for crystal violet, and 96.32% for Congo red). Therefore, GO-based composite membranes have promising applications in the desalination of dye solutions.

Effect of Particle Specific Surface Area on the Rheology of Non-Brownian Silica Suspensions.

Industrial formulations very often involve particles with a broad range of surface characteristics and size distributions. Particle surface asperities (roughness) and porosity increase particle specific surface area and significantly alter suspension rheology, which can be detrimental to the quality of the end product. We examine the rheological properties of two types of non-Brownian, commercial precipitated silicas, with varying specific surface area, namely PS52 and PS226, suspended in a non-aqueous solvent, glycerol, and compare them against those of glass sphere suspensions (GS2) with a similar size distribution. A non-monotonic effect of the specific surface area () on suspension rheology is observed, whereby PS52 particles in glycerol are found to exhibit strong shear thinning response, whereas such response is suppressed for glass sphere and PS226 particle suspensions. This behaviour is attributed to the competing mechanisms of particle–particle and particle–solvent interactions. In particular, increasing the specific surface area beyond a certain value results in the repulsive interparticle hydration forces (solvation forces) induced by glycerol overcoming particle frictional contacts and suppressing shear thinning; this is evidenced by the response of the highest specific surface area particles PS226. The study demonstrates the potential of using particle specific surface area as a means to tune the rheology of non-Brownian silica particle suspensions.

Colloidal stability of silica and graphite in aqueous suspensions

In order to investigate the effect of surface wettability on colloidal stability, aggregation/dispersion behaviors of fine silica and graphite in aqueous suspensions have been investigated. It was found that hydrophobic graphite particles showed a high aggregation degree in low pH suspensions, while it showed very low aggregation degree in high pH suspensions due to the strong electrostatic repulsions between graphite particles. On the other hand, silica particles showed stable dispersion behaviors even under strong Van der Waals attraction in low pH suspensions, which could not be explained by DLVO theory. Solvation factor on hydrophilic silica particles was applied to prove the strong hydration of silica, and it is the hydration repulsion forces among silica particles that determined the stable dispersion of silica particles in a wide pH range. Therefore, it was concluded that hydration layers formed on hydrophilic mineral surfaces played an important role in colloidal stability.