On Coagulation of Polydisperse Metal Nanocolloids and Conditions for Applicability of the Muller–Smoluchowski Theory

摘要

The regularities of the coagulation of metal nanocolloids with different degrees of polydispersity are studied by the Brownian dynamics method. The results of the numerical calculations of coagulation kinetics are compared with the conclusions of the Muller–Smoluchowski theory. It is revealed that these data deviate from the predictions of the theory upon a decrease in the viscosity of dispersion medium, an increase in the thickness of layers adsorbed on particles, and the combination of these factors. It is demonstrated that no acceleration of the colloid coagulation with a rise in the degree of polydispersity, which is predicted by the theory, takes place under these conditions.