Structural forces in soft matter systems: unique flocculation pathways between deformable droplets - Swinburne Research Bank : Open Access Repository

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Title: Structural forces in soft matter systems: unique flocculation pathways between deformable droplets
Author(s): Tabor, Rico F.; Lockie, Hannah; Chan, Derek Y. C.; Grieser, Franz; Grillo, Isabelle; Mutch, Kevin J.; Dagastine, Raymond R.
Abstract: Oscillatory structural forces caused by colloidal additives including micelles, microemulsion droplets and particles were explored between rigid and deformable interfaces using direct force measurements with the atomic force microscope. The observed oscillations from rigid surfaces become distorted when confinement occurs between deformable interfaces, giving rise to a force hysteresis between approaching and separating interfaces. Small-angle neutron scattering was used to determine the bulk structure of the colloidal additives, as a basis for comparison with their behaviour when confined in thin films. It is seen that confinement itself does not appear to significantly alter the structure of the colloidal additive when compared to the bulk; however, at small separations, interactions with the confining interfaces may become important. The combined approach uncovered an unique flocculation pathway that is available to deformable emulsion droplets, and that the strength of this flocculation can be tuned by changes in the size and concentration of the structuring colloid, the emulsion droplet size, and the ionic strength of the solution.
Publication Type: Journal article
Research Centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
Source: Soft Matter, Vol. 7, no. 24 (Dec 2011), pp. 11334-11344
Publication Year: 2011
FOR Code(s): 02 Physical Science; 03 Chemical Sciences; 09 Engineering
Keyword(s): AFM; Atomic force microscopy; Colloidal additives; Deformable droplets; Deformable interfaces; Direct force measurements; Flocculation; Micelles; Microemulsion droplets; Particles; Soft matter systems
Publisher: The Royal Society of Chemistry
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C1SM06326J
ISSN: 1744-683X
Peer Reviewed