Disorder-to-order phase transitions in concentrated colloidal dispersions

Abstract

The disorder-to-order transitions that occur in concentrated colloidal dispersions of rigid spherical and rod-like particles are reviewed. It is indicated how the wealth of theoretical work and computer simulation results on the phase behaviour of atomic and molecular fluids can be applied to colloidal dispersions. The features that make colloidal dispersions unique (controllable particle-particle interactions,convenient length- and time-sadcs) arc emphasized throughout.