Coagulation and flocculation measurements by photon correlation spectroscopy — colloidal SiO2 bare and covered by polyethylene oxide

With photon correlation spectrometry (PCS) the diffusion coefficients, average diameters and polydispersities of colloidal particles can be determined in dilute aqueous suspensions. In this study PCS is used to follow the coagulation and flocculation of silica particles. Electrolyte solution added to suspensions of bare particles and of particles covered with adsorbed polyethylene oxide layers induces aggregation. The rate constants of aggregation are evaluated by the second-order Smoluchowski theory with the assumptions of spherical aggregated particles and volume proportional light-scattering amplitude. Adsorbed PEO layers of molar mass lower thanM_w=160000 decrease the critical flocculation concentration and the flocculation states and rate constants for bare and covered particles are the same at high electrolyte concentrations. Polymer layers of high molar mass (M_w=325000, 900000) reducved at full coverage the rate constants and stabilize the suspensions even at high electrolyte concentrations. At low coverage adsorption of high molar mass polymers results in the same values as of low molar mass PEO. The correlation between rate constants and hydrodynamic PEO layer thicknesses demonstrates the steric influence of the tails of the adsorbed macromolecules on stability and flocculation.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Joachim Klein on the occasion of his 60th birthday