A direct method for studying particle deposition onto solid surfaces

Abstract

An experimental technique has been developed to study the deposition of colloidal particles under well controlled hydrodynamic conditions. The deposition process is observed under a microscope and recorded on video tape for further analysis. Fluid flow conditions in the experimental set-up were determined by numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations. Mass transfer equations were solved numerically (taking into account hydrodynamic, gravitational, electric double layer, and dispersion forces) for the stagnation point region. Also, some analytical solutions are presented. Deposition has been studied of 0.5μm polystyrene latex particles on cover glass slides used as collectors. From an analysis of the shape of the coating density vs. time curves and independently from the distribution of the particles on collector surfaces, it was found that one particle is able to block an area of about 20 to 30 times its geometrical cross-section. The initial flux of particles to the collector for a given salt concentration was found to depend strongly on the method of cleaning the collector surface. In general the flux and the escape of particles to and from the collector surface are sensitive to the interaction energy at small separations. The direct method of observing particle deposition and detachment could lead to important insights into the nature of particle-wall interactions at near contact.