DEPLETION-FORCE KINETICS IN CONFINED COLLOIDAL MIXTURES

Depletion-force kinetics in confined nearly hard-sphere mixtures are i nterpreted within the context of reversible two-dimensional aggregatio n. The cluster-size distribution function of the minority component ex hibits an exponential decay in the cluster size, with a time-dependent decay constant that relaxes toward the steady-state value suggested b y simulations of two-dimensional evaporation-condensation phenomena wi th Brownian (random-walk) trajectories. This similarity is attributed to a greatly reduced mobility of the aggregates with respect to unboun d large spheres. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.