Abstract Scope |
The viscosity of 165 suspensions (11 mediums x 15 types of colloids) was measured to determine if the results correlated to the predictions made by DLVO theory. Some results did not directly correlate to the DLVO prediction. Since applicability of DLVO theory requires suspensions to be stabilized by an electrostatic mechanism with no other mechanisms having a significant impact in dispersion, it was suspected that other, non-electrostatic dispersion mechanisms were present in the suspensions that did not agree with the DLVO prediction. A method to determine the mechanism of dispersion using viscosity data was developed. It was determined that all suspensions with the exception of those prepared with heptane, octanoic acid, and poly(ethylene glycol) all had an electrostatic dispersion mechanism with no other mechanisms operating in a significant capacity. After exclusion of suspensions that were tested to have multiple dispersion mechanisms operating, DLVO theory accurately predicted suspension stability. |