DLVO interaction between colloidal particles: Beyond Derjaguin's approximation

Van der Waals and electrostatic double layer interactions between two collo idal particles are evaluated from the corresponding interaction energies pe r unit area between two infinite flat plates using a recently developed tec hnique, the surface element integration. Application of the technique to tw o interacting spheres results in predictions of interaction energies that a re substantially more accurate compared to the predictions based on convent ional Derjaguin's approximation. The superior results of the technique comp ared to Derjaguin's approximation are attributed to the more rigorous consi deration of particle curvature effects in the surface element integration t echnique.