Abstract:
Depletion interaction in a suspension of rodlike colloids with added non-adsorbing polymer coils is theoretically studied. We calculate an overlap volume of depletion zone between two rodlike colloids, based on the second virial approximation. We examine nematic-isotropic phase transition (NIT) and two-phase coexistence between an isotropic and a nematic phase at low polymer concentrations. We find that the depletion interaction is dependent on the orientational order parameter of rodlike colloids and leads to a decrease in the NIT concentration on the addition of polymer. The coexistence curves have a leaning-chimney shape and are shifted to lower rod concentrations on increasing the polymer concentration.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received 23 May 2001 and Received in final form 18 July 2001
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matsuyama, A., Kato, T. Orientation-dependent depletion interaction in rodlike colloid-polymer mixtures. Eur. Phys. J. E 6, 15–24 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s101890170023
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s101890170023