Effect of ionizing radiaton on the stability of colloidal silver and other metals in aqueous solutions

The effect of ionizing radiation (accelerated electrons and γ-rays of⁶⁰Co) on the stability of aqueous solutions of colloidal silver was studied. The threshold of absorbed dose, at which the stability dramatically decreases and coagulation of the metal occurs, was found. This critical dose corresponds to the reduction of silver ions that determine the electrical potential of the sols. “Radiation” neutralization was also found for cadmium sols and was not observed in the case of thallium, copper, or platinum. A mechanism of the effect of radiation, taking into account the electrostatic factor in the stability of metal sols, was considered. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 259–264, February, 1997.