Sedimentation dynamics in the presence of polymer

ORAL

Abstract

We study the sedimentation of colloidal particles in polymer supplemented solution. The polymers enrich the dynamics of sedimentation by adding both particle attraction (caused by depletion interactions) and an elastic component to the flow. The sedimentation dynamics are governed by the formation, sedimentation and consequent breakup of poroelastic clusters of many particles. By making use of a custom built laser sheet microscope we are able to track Brownian one-micron particles at single particle resolution within a large ($\sim $cm sized) cell. This way we can resolve between bulk and boundary effects.

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Authors

  • Shmuel M. Rubinstein

    Department of Physics and Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Physics and Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

  • Mahesh Bandi

    Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University

  • Tom Kodger

    Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

  • David A. Weitz

    Department of Physics and Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA