The deposition kinetics of polymeric microspheres (average diameter 8.742 m
u m, density 1.50 g.cm(-3)) on smooth silica plates was determined experime
ntally. The measurements were carried out in a sedimentation cell using a d
irect microscope observation technique supplemented by the image analysis.
The experimental data were interpreted in terms of the ballistic deposition
(BD) model, where the irreversibility of the adsorption is assumed. It was
found that both deposition kinetics and the jamming coverage (determined t
o be 0.60 +/- 0.02) were in quantitative agreement with the ED model. Our e
xperimental data constitute, therefore, a direct proof of the validity of t
his model for characterizing particle deposition processes driven by a stro
ng gravitational force field.