Surface Adsorption, Repulsion and Attraction: A New Experimental Approach to Surface Forces

The ability to understand and manipulate the stability of finely dispersed particles (colloids) in water is essential to modern living. It is necessary in processes as diverse as water purification, minerals separation, food and paper production. The behaviour of the colloidal system can often be understood in terms of the interaction between the dispersed particles. This project aims to improve our ability to predict the nature of the interaction between dispersed particles, through an understanding of the events at a particle surface during a collision with another particle. This will enable us to better understand and control real colloidal systems.