Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
Published on: May 20, 2014
Melting transition in a quasi-two-dimensional colloid suspension: influence of the colloid-colloid interaction
Karnchanaphanurach1, Lin, Rice
1James Franck Institute and The Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Abstract:
We report the results of a study, using digital video microscopy, of the melting transition in a quasi-two-dimensional suspension of uncharged silica spheres. This system was chosen to further test the dependence of the two-dimensional melting transition on the functional form of the colloid-colloid interaction. Our experimental data show that the solid phase undergoes a first order transition directly to the liquid phase. The system studied yields no evidence of the existence of a hexatic phase interpolating between the solid and liquid phases in the melting process.
Related Concept Videos
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
Colloids
Colloids and Suspensions
Colloidal precipitates
Solid–Solid Solutions
The Colloidal State

