A STUDY OF THE KINETICS OF GELATION OF SILICA PARTICLES INDUCED BY LEAD IONS IN ALCOHOLIC SOLUTION

A study of the kinetics of aggregation of silica particles induced by the addition of lead ions in alcoholic solution is reported. The metal ions were added sequentially at regular time intervals until gelation was reached. The aggregation process was followed by monitoring the g rowth of the aggregates as a function of time by using dynamic light s cattering. The active sites on the surface of particles produce an ads orption of the metal ions, which promotes the aggregation processes of silica particles accelerating gelation. Several experiments were perf ormed by changing the sol and the lead ions concentrations.