Small angle neutron scattering studies on nonaqueous dispersions of calcium carbonate Part 2. Determination of the form factor for concentric spheres

Colloidal dispersions of calcium carbonate, stabilised primarily by a surface active agent, in both toluene and dodecane have been examined by small angle neutron scattering. A model has been developed to simulate the scattering behaviour of the particles and is based on the idea of a concentric sphere with a homogeneous layer of adsorbed material surrounding a core particle. Computations based on the model show a wide variation of scattering behaviour with variation of the coherent scattering length of the dispersion medium. These predictions were confirmed by experiment. A method is described for analysis of the experimental data which leads to a determination of the thickness of the adsorbed layer, the radius of the core particle and the standard deviation of core particle radius.