BROWNIAN DYNAMICS OF STERICALLY-STABILIZED COLLOIDAL SUSPENSIONS

Using Brownian dynamics, equilibrium and dynamic properties are calcul ated for colloidal suspensions that are stabilized through the Milner, Witten and Cates (1988) steric potential. Results are reported for os motic pressures, radial distribution functions, static structure facto rs, and self-diffusion coefficients. The sterically-stabilized systems are also approximated by equivalent hard spheres, with good agreement for osmotic pressure and long-range structure. The suitability of the potential to model the behavior of a real system is explored by compa ring static structure factors calculated from Brownian dynamics simula tions to those measured using SANS (Markovic et al., 1986). Finally, t he effects of Hamaker and hydrodynamic forces on calculated properties are investigated.