Rheology of sterically stabilized dispersions and latices

Steric stabilization is a method that is often used to properly disperse sm all particles. It can be applied in aqueous as well as non-aqueous media. T he rheological properties of sterically stabilized dispersions are discusse d here. The various controlling parameters and the physical mechanisms invo lved are reviewed. Brownian hard spheres are used as a reference. Scaling r elations are presented that make it possible to reduce data sets and to pre dict properties. Viscosity, yield stress, shear thickening and viscoelastic ity are included. The rheological properties are also related to the fundam ental colloidal properties of the dispersions under consideration. Quantita tive results are available for monodisperse spherical particles, although t he effects of particle size distribution can sometimes be predicted also qu ite well. In other cases the procedures presented here can be used qualitat ively to predict viscosities. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights res erved.