Aggregation in colloids and aerosols

by Pierce, Flint G.

This work is the result of a wide range of computer simulation research into the

aggregation behavior of dispersed colloidal and aerosol particles in a number of different

environments from the continuum to the free-molecular. The goal of this research has

been to provide a bridge between experimental and theoretical researchers in this field by

simulating the aggregation process within a known model. To this end, a variety of interparticle

interactions has been studied in the course of this research, focusing on the effect

of these interactions on the aggregation mechanism and resulting aggregate structures.

Both Monte Carlo and Brownian Dynamics codes have been used to achieve this goal.

The morphologies of clusters that result from aggregation events in these systems have

been thoroughly analyzed with a range of diverse techniques, and excellent agreement

has been found with other researchers in this field. Morphologies of these clusters

include fractal, gel, and crystalline forms, sometimes within the same structure at

different length scales. This research has contributed to the fundamental understanding of

aggregation rates and size distributions in many physical system, having allowed for the

development of improved models of the aggregation and gelation process. Systems

studied include DLCA and BLCA in two and three dimension, free-molecular diffusional

(Epstein) system, selective aggregation in binary colloids, ssDNA mediated aggregation

in colloidal systems, and several others.