Static light scattering of concentrated silica dispersions in apolar solvents

Abstract

Organophilic silica appears to be a proper model colloid to study particle-particle interactions in apolar media in a large range of concentrations. Fluid-state theories can be successfully applied to interpret lightscattering results of concentrated silica dispersions in cyclohexane and chloroform. Compressibilities and also scattering results at 0 = 150 ° agree rather well with the hardsphere model. Large clusters of particles appear at the highest concentrations. Small aggregates (e.g., doublets) are sometimes present at all concentrations.