abstract
The slightly attractive inter-particle equilibrium potential associated with electrostatically stabilized suspensions of minimum viscosity is described by the DLVO theory and commonly gauged by static zeta-potential measurements, plagued with experimental uncertainties. In this work, the electrokinetic mobility of alumina particles was measured in suspensions prepared with selected solids content and ionic strength, as well as was the electrical conductivity of each suspension and suspending liquid. Particles electrical conductivity was then calculated and related to the colloidal stability described by the DLVO theory, enabling the identification of a processing window for the stability control of concentrated suspensions. The maximum repulsive potential and distance between particles (similar to 46 nm) corresponds to the particles maximum conductivity. When the particles conductivity is zero, the diffuse layer is fully collapsed and they stand at the minimum reversible distance (similar to 7 nm). At the equilibrium conductivity, a potential" curve is produced with a secondary attractive minimum of similar to 1.5 kT at an inter-particle distance of similar to 17 nm, as suggested by the DLVO theory and the Equipartition of Energy theorem. The condition for accurate measurement of static zeta-potential occurs at the isoconductivity point between particles and suspending liquid. 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
keywords
CHARGED-PARTICLES; POLYELECTROLYTES; ADSORPTION; KINETICS; FORCES; DLVO
subject category
Chemistry
authors
Cruz, RCD; Segadaes, AM; Oberacker, R; Hoffmann, MJ
our authors
Ana Maria B C Segadães
Retired Professoracknowledgements
Authors appreciate the financial support received from the Brazilian Research Agency CAPES (R.C.D. Cruz, Ph.D. grant) and from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG Research Unit FOR 371) and the very enlightening discussions with P.Q Mantas from the University of Aveiro, Portugal.