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Wetting Behavior in Colloid-Polymer Mixtures at Different Substrates.
Willem K Wijting1, Nicolaas A M Besseling1, Martien A Cohen Stuart1
1Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, P. O. Box 8038, 6700 EK Wageningen, The Netherlands.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|August 29, 2015
Summary
Wetting phenomena in phase separated colloidal systems change from partial to complete wetting near the critical point. Modifying substrates with polymers induces a transition from partial to complete drying.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and Interface Science
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Depletion interactions drive phase separation in colloidal dispersions.
- Wetting phenomena are crucial for understanding material interfaces.
- The critical point signifies a phase transition boundary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate wetting phenomena in depletion-driven, phase-separated colloidal dispersions.
- To determine the contact angle of the colloidal liquid-gas interface at a solid substrate.
- To explore the effect of substrate modification on wetting behavior.
Main Methods:
- Experimental determination of contact angles for various compositions.
- Systematic variation of colloidal dispersion compositions.
- Modification of solid substrates with polymers to alter surface interactions.
Main Results:
- A transition from partial to complete wetting was observed upon approaching the critical point.
- Substrate modification with polymers induced a transition from partial to complete drying near the critical point.
Conclusions:
- Wetting behavior in colloidal dispersions is sensitive to composition and proximity to the critical point.
- Surface modification offers a route to control wetting and drying transitions in colloidal systems.
- These findings have implications for colloidal assembly and interfacial engineering.
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