Elastohydrodynamic collision of two spheres allowing slip on their surfaces

Our goal is to study theoretically the effect of deformation on the collisi on of two solid spheres allowing slip on their surfaces. The deformed shape of the solid surface is determined via an asymptotic technique assuming th at deformation is small compared with the separation between the surfaces. It has previously been shown that the slippage makes collision possible eve n without any surface attractive force. Here we demonstrate that even a sma ll amount of deformation can preclude spheres from coagulation. (C) 2000 Ac ademic Press.