MODEL SUSPENSIONS OF DEFORMABLE PARTICLES

The properties of two-dimensional continuum-model suspensions of deform-able particles are studied by Monte Carlo simulation. Two types of deformable particle are introduced, the tethered cluster and the tethered ring. Both types of particle are composed of four interaction sites, but differ in the specification of the intraparticle interactions. All of the intra- and interparticle interactions are characterised by a single parameter, the system temperature. Tethered rings show a continuous degree of deformability as a function of temperature, whereas tethered clusters show a sharp order-disorder transition in the intraparticle structure with increasing temperature. The dependence of intra- and interparticle order on particle density is studied for both model suspensions at low and high temperatures. For suspensions of tethered clusters, at temperatures corresponding to intraparticle disorder in dilute systems, increasing particle density gives rise to an intraparticle ordering transition prior to long-range interparticle ordering. © 1990 Taylor and Francis Ltd.