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Gel formation through reversible and irreversible aggregation

Piero Tartaglia

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We study the kinetics of formation of branched loopless structures in mixtures of particles with different shapes and functionalities. These systems are treated with the appropriate Smoluchowski rate equations, including condensation and fragmentation terms, and it is shown that it is possible to provide a parameter-free description of the assembly process, including the limit of irreversible aggregation at low temperatures. Using dynamics simulations we provide evidence of a connection between physical and chemical gelation in low-valence particle systems, and the possibility of relating ageing time with temperature.


PACS

82.70.Gg Gels and sols

61.20.Ja Computer simulation of liquid structure

64.70.F- Liquid–vapor transitions

Subjects

Soft matter, liquids and polymers

Condensed matter: structural, mechanical & thermal

Chemical physics and physical chemistry

Dates

Issue 50 (16 December 2009)

Received 8 May 2009, in final form 11 May 2009

Published 23 November 2009



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