Evolution of an ensemble of fractal aggregates in a colloidal system

A theoretical study is presented of primary-minimum aggregation of colloidal particles, which generally leads to the formation of ramified fractal clusters. The focus is placed on the cooperative effects due to competition between aggregates for particles moving freely in the colloidal suspension. An analysis shows that the competition leads to aggregate density distributions and aggregation kinetics governed by more complicated laws as compared to those established in previous numerical and analytical studies of single-cluster growth.