Phase separation of sterically stabilized colloids as a function of temperature

Abstract

Colloidal dispersions of sterically stabilized silica spheres in toluene are found to separate into two layers when the temperature drops below a certain threshold. The phase diagram shows a dependence on the overall concentration. The behaviour of the dilute phase compares with theoretically calculated binodals using polydispersity in the polymer-like attraction. For the concentrated phase no agreement is obtained.