Abstract.
Off-lattice dynamic Monte-Carlo simulations were done of reversible cluster-cluster aggregation for spheres that form rigid bonds at contact. The equilibrium properties were found to be determined by the life time of encounters between two particles (te). te is a function not only of the probability to form or break a bond, but also of the elementary step size of the Brownian motion of the particles. In the flocculation regime the fractal dimension of the clusters is df=2.0 and the size distribution has a power law decay with exponent τ=1.5. At larger values of te transient gels are formed. Close to the percolation threshold the clusters have a fractal dimension df=2.7 and the power law exponent of the size distribution is τ=2.1. The transition between flocculation and percolation occurs at a characteristic weight average aggregation number that decreases with increasing volume fraction.
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Babu, S., Rottereau, M., Nicolai, T. et al. Flocculation and percolation in reversible cluster-cluster aggregation. Eur. Phys. J. E 19, 203–211 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/e2006-00022-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/e2006-00022-7