Colloidal Particles At Liquid Interfaces

The understanding of how small solid particles operate at liquid interfaces is minimal. This book brings together the topics actively being investigated, with contributions from experts in the field. It will be of interest to researchers in chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, pharmacy, food science and materials science.

Fluid interfaces are promising candidates for confining different types of materials, e.g., polymers, surfactants, colloids, and even small molecules, to be used in designing new functional materials with reduced dimensionality. The development of such materials requires a deepening of the physicochemical bases underlying the formation of layers at fluid interfaces as well as on the characterization of their structures and properties. This is of particular importance because the constraints associated with the assembly of materials at the interface lead to the emergence of equilibrium and features of dynamics in the interfacial systems, which are far removed from those conventionally found in traditional materials. This Special Issue is devoted to studies on the fundamental and applied aspects of fluid interfaces, and attempts to provide a comprehensive perspective on the current status of the research field.

In the small world of micrometer to nanometer scale many natural and industrial processes include attachment of colloid particles (solid spheres, liquid droplets, gas bubbles or protein macromolecules) to fluid interfaces and their confinement in liquid films. This may lead to the appearance of lateral interactions between particles at interfaces, or between inclusions in phospholipid membranes, followed eventually by the formation of two-dimensional ordered arrays. The book is devoted to the description of such processes, their consecutive stages, and to the investigation of the underlying physico-chemical mechanisms. The first six chapters give a concise but informative introduction to the basic knowledge in surface and colloid science, which includes both traditional concepts and some recent results. Chapters 1 and 2 are devoted to the basic theory of capillarity, kinetics of surfactant adsorption, shapes of axisymmetric fluid interfaces, contact angles and line tension. Chapters 3 and 4 present a generalization of the theory of capillarity to the case, in which the variation of the interfacial (membrane) curvature contributes to the total energy of the system. The generalized Laplace equation is applied to determine the configurations of free and adherent biological cells. Chapters 5 and 6 are focused on the role of thin liquid films and hydrodynamic factors in the attachment of solid and fluid particles to an interface. Surface forces of various physical nature are presented and their relative importance is discussed. Hydrodynamic interactions of a colloidal particle with an interface (or another particle) are also considered.Chapters 7 to 10 are devoted to the theoretical foundation of various kinds of capillary forces. When two particles are attached to the same interface (membrane), capillary interactions, mediated by the interface or membrane, appear between them. Two major kinds of capillary interactions are described: (i) capillary immersion force related to the surface wettability (Chapter 7), (ii) capillary flotation force originating from interfacial deformations due to particle weight (Chapter 8). Special attention is paid to the theory of capillary immersion forces between particles entrapped in spherical liquid films (Chapter 9). A generalization of the theory of immersion forces allows one to describe membrane-mediated interactions between protein inclusions into a lipid bilayer (Chapter 10).Chapter 11 is devoted to the theory of the capillary bridges and the capillary-bridge forces, whose importance has been recognized in phenomena like consolidation of granules and soils, wetting of powders, capillary condensation, long-range hydrophobic attraction, etc. The nucleation of capillary bridges is also examined.Chapter 12 considers solid particles, which have an irregular wetting perimeter upon attachment to a fluid interface. The undulated contact line induces interfacial deformations, which engender a special lateral capillary force between the particles. The latter contributes to the dilatational and shear elastic moduli of particulate adsorption monolayers.Chapter 13 describes how lateral capillary forces, facilitated by convective flows and some specific and non-specific interactions, can lead to the aggregation and ordering of various particles at fluid interfaces or in thin liquid films. Recent results on fabricating two-dimensional (2D) arrays from micrometer and sub-micrometer latex particles, as well as 2D crystals from proteins and protein complexes, are reviewed. Chapter 14 presents applied aspects of the particle-surface interaction in antifoaming and defoaming. The mechanisms of antifoaming action involve as a necessary step the entering of an antifoam particle at the air-water interface. The considered mechanisms indicate the factors for control of foaminess.

Planar fluid interfaces -- Interfaces of moderate curvature : theory of capillarity -- Surface bending moment and curvature elastic moduli -- General curved interfaces and biomembranes -- Liquid films and interactions between particle and surface -- Particles at interfaces : deformations and hydrodynamic interactions -- Lateral capillary forces between partially immersed bodies -- Lateral capillary forces between floating particles -- Capillary forces between particles bound to a spherical interface -- Mechanics of lipid membranes and interaction between inclusions -- Capillary bridges and capillary-bridge forces -- Capillary forces between particles of irregular contact line -- Two-dimensional crystallization of particulates and proteins -- Effect of oil drops and particulates on the stability of foams.

This textbook seeks to bring readers with no prior knowledge or experience in interfacial phenomena, colloid science or nanoscience to the point where they can comfortably enter the current scientific and technical literature in the area.Designed as a pedagogical tool, this textbook recognizes the cross-disciplinary nature of the subject. To facilitate learning, the topics are developed from the beginning with ample cross-referencing. The understanding of concepts is enhanced by clear descriptions of experiments and provisions of figures and illustrations.

Characteristically, surfactants in aqueous solution adsorb at interfaces and form aggregates (micelles of various shapes and sizes, microemulsion droplets, and lyotropic liquid crystalline phases). This book is about the behaviour of surfactants in solution, at interfaces, and in colloidal dispersions. Adsorption at liquid/fluid and solid/liquid interfaces, and ways of characterizing the adsorbed surfactant films, are explained. Surfactant aggregation in systems containing only an aqueous phase and in systems with comparable volumes of water and nonpolar oil are each considered. In the latter case, the surfactant distribution between oil and water and the behaviour of the resulting Winsor systems are central to surfactant science and to an understanding of the formation of emulsions and microemulsions. Surfactant layers on particle or droplet surfaces can confer stability on dispersions including emulsions, foams, and particulate dispersions. The stability is dependent on the surface forces between droplet or particle surfaces and the way in which they change with particle separation. Surface forces are also implicated in wetting processes and thin liquid film formation and stability. The rheology of adsorbed films on liquids and of bulk colloidal dispersions is covered in two chapters. Like surfactant molecules, small solid particles can adsorb at liquid/fluid interfaces and the final two chapters focus on particle adsorption, the behaviour of adsorbed particle films and the stabilization of Pickering emulsions.--Provided by publisher.

Volume V is the counterpart of Volume IV and treats hydrophilic colloids and related items. Contains edited contributions on steric stabilization, depletion, polyelectrolytes, proteins at interfaces, association colloids, microemulsions, thin films, foams and emulsions. J. Lyklema is coauthor of two chapters and general editor. Other authors include: G.J. Fleer, F.A.M. Leermakers, M.A. Cohen Stuart, W. Norde, J.A.G. Buijs, J.C. Eriksson, T.Sottmann, R. Strey, D. Platikanov, D. Ekserova, V.Bergeron and P.Walstra. * This volume completes the prestigious series Fundamentals of Interface and Colloid Science* Together with Volume IV this book provides a comprehensive introduction to colloid science.* Explains and elaborates phenomena starting from basic principles and progresses to more advanced topics

Bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels, now commonly termed 'bijels', are a class of soft materials, in which interpenetrating, continuous domains of two immiscible fluids are maintained in a rigid arrangement by a jammed layer of colloidal particles at their interface. Such gels have unusual material properties that promise exciting applications across diverse fields from energy materials and catalysis, to food science. This is the first book on the subject and provides the reader with a fundamental introduction. Edited by a recognised authority on bijels, the reader will learn about the bijel and its formation. Bringing together current understanding, this book aims to bring the potential application of bijels to diverse materials challenges closer to fruition. This is a must-have resource for anyone working in soft matter and applied fields.