Aggregation of particles in ultradispersed diamond hydrosols

The dependence of the aggregation stability of hydrosols of ultradispersed diamond particles produced by the detonation synthesis on the concentration of the solid phase was investigated. The aggregation behavior of the low-c oncentration aqueous dispersions is largely determined by the hydrophilic-h ydrophobic mosaic structure of the surface of diamond particles. The presen ce of regions with a higher interfacial tension at the boundary with the aq ueous medium causes the possibility of the orientation of particles at the air-dispersion interface. Synthesis conditions and chemical purification of ultradispersed diamond particles affect the degree of hydrophilicity of th eir surface and, correspondingly, their aggregation in aqueous dispersions.