Temperature dependent elastic repulsion of colloidal nanoparticles with a polymer adsorption layer

Abstract

The model of pairwise elastic repulsion of contacting colloidal nanoparticles with a rigid core and deformable shell is discussed. A simple analytical equation is applied for the energy of elastic repulsion of nanoparticles with arbitrary sizes and the elasticity moduli of self-healing polymer adsorption layers. The model is based on the representation of the absorption layer as a continuous medium that is elastically deformed upon the contact of nanoparticles. The major characteristic of this medium is the elasticity modulus. The magnitude of the elasticity modulus is determined from the condition of balance of the van der Waals attractive forces of nanoparticles and the elastic repulsion of their adsorption layers in the contact area, taking into account the temperature variations. We employed the kinetic approach to describe the dependence of the elasticity modulus on both the temperature and the rate of its change.