In colloidal suspensions, at low volume fraction and temperature, dynamical arrest occurs via the growth of elongated structures that aggregate to form a connected network at gelation. Here we show that, in the region of parameter space where gelation occurs, the stable thermodynamical phase is a crystalline columnar one. Near and above the gelation threshold, the disordered spanning network slowly evolves and finally orders to form the crystalline structure. At higher volume fractions the stable phase is a lamellar one, which seems to have a still longer ordering time.
In colloidal suspensions, at low volume fraction and temperature, dynamical arrest occurs via the growth of elongated structures that aggregate to form a connected network at gelation. Here we show that, in the region of parameter space where gelation occurs, the stable thermodynamical phase is a crystalline columnar one. Near and above the gelation threshold, the disordered spanning network slowly evolves and finally orders to form the crystalline structure. At higher volume fractions the stable phase is a lamellar one, which seems to have a still longer ordering time.
Columnar and lamellar phases in attractive colloidal systems
A de Candia;A Fierro;A Coniglio
2006
Abstract
In colloidal suspensions, at low volume fraction and temperature, dynamical arrest occurs via the growth of elongated structures that aggregate to form a connected network at gelation. Here we show that, in the region of parameter space where gelation occurs, the stable thermodynamical phase is a crystalline columnar one. Near and above the gelation threshold, the disordered spanning network slowly evolves and finally orders to form the crystalline structure. At higher volume fractions the stable phase is a lamellar one, which seems to have a still longer ordering time.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
