[en] he influence of gravity on a suspension of sterically stabilized colloidal gibbsite platelets is studied. An initially isotropic-nematic biphasic sample of such a suspension develops a columnar phase on the bottom on prolonged standing. This phenomenon is described using a simple osmotic compression model. We performed Monte Carlo simulations of cut spheres with aspect ratio L/D = 1/15 and took data from the literature to supply the equations of state required for the model. We find that the model describes the observed three-phase equilibrium quite well.
Disciplines :
Physics
Identifiers :
UNILU:UL-ARTICLE-2010-906
Author, co-author :
van der Beek, D.; Van’t Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Utrecht University, Netherlands
SCHILLING, Tanja ; Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany
Lekkerkerker, H. N. W.; Van’t Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Utrecht University, Netherlands
Language :
English
Title :
Gravity-induced liquid crystal phase transitions of colloidal platelets
Publication date :
2004
Journal title :
Journal of Chemical Physics
ISSN :
0021-9606
eISSN :
1089-7690
Publisher :
AMER INST PHYSICS, CIRCULATION & FULFILLMENT DIV, 2 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE, STE 1 N O 1, MELVILLE, NY 11747-4501 USA
