Concentration-Dependent Sedimentation of Stable Magnetic Dispersions

The concentration dependence of the sedimentation coefficient has been studied theoretically for a stable magnetic colloidal system under the influence of an external homogeneous magnetic field. The physical model of the magnetic colloid given by Donselaar et al. (1997, Langmuir 13, 6018) was adopted. It was found that the magnetic interaction accelerated the sedimentation of the particles. The stronger the external magnetic field is, the quicker the sedimentation of the particles. For sterically stabilized particles frequently used in experiments to simulate hard spheres, the combined influence of the magnetic attraction and van der Waals attraction on the sedimentation is also analyzed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.