Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

De-mixing of polydisperse fluids: experimental test of a universal relation

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
Colloid and Polymer Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Colloids, emulsions, polymer blends, and other important complex fluids, are ‘polydisperse’, i.e. there are variations among their constituent particles. Polydispersity is usually regarded as an ubiquitous, uncontrollable nuisance causing experimental inconsistencies. We have varied the polydispersity of a complex fluid, whilst keeping all other parameters constant, and report the first measurements of some universal physics. At coexistence (e.g. between liquid and vapour), fractionation occurs—each phase receives a different mix of the various ingredients, e.g. with the liquid disproportionately abundant with larger particles. Theory predicts, at low polydispersity, that this de-mixing becomes universal, irrespective of the material, with chemical differences between the phases proportional to polydispersity to the power two. We have studied colloid–polymer suspensions at two-phase coexistence and, using light scattering, measured the exponent as 2.16±0.44.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Evans RML, Fairhurst DJ, Poon WCK (1998) Phys Rev Lett 81:1326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Evans RML (2001) J Chem Phys 114:1915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Fredrickson GH (1998) Nature 395:323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Antl L, Goodwin JW, Hill RD, Ottewill RH, Owens SM, Papworth S (1986) Colloids Surf 17:67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pathmamanoharan C, Slob C, Lekkerkerker HNW (1989) Colloid Polym Sci 267:448

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ilett SM, Orrock A, Poon WCK, Pusey PN (1995) Phys Rev E 51:1344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lekkerkerker HNW, Poon WCK, Pusey PN, Stroobants A, Warren PB (1992) Europhys Lett 20:559

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Evans RML, Holmes CB (2001) Phys Rev E 64:011404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Pusey PN, van Megen W (1984) J Chem Phys 80:3513

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Taylor JR (1997) An introduction to error analysis. University Science Books, Sausalito, California

  11. Barrat JL, Hansen J-P (1986) J Physique 47:1547

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Clarke N, Cuesta JA, Sear R, Sollich P, Speranza A (2000) J Chem Phys 113:5817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bartlett P, Warren PB (1999) Phys Rev Lett 82:1979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sollich P, Warren PB, Cates ME (2001) Adv Chem Phys 116:265

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Pagonabarraga I, Cates ME, Ackland GJ (2000) Phys Rev Lett 84:911

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kofke DA, Bolhuis PG (1999) Phys Rev E 59:618

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Thanks go to Suzanne Fielding for helpful suggestions. RMLE is a Royal Society University Research Fellow.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, U.K.

    D. J. Fairhurst

  2. Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K.

    R. M. L. Evans

Authors
  1. D. J. Fairhurst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. M. L. Evans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. M. L. Evans.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fairhurst, D.J., Evans, R.M.L. De-mixing of polydisperse fluids: experimental test of a universal relation. Colloid Polym Sci 282, 766–769 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-003-1019-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-003-1019-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation