The sedimentation in aqueous suspensions of surface-coated silica and a-alumina has been investigated by means of time domain dielectric measurements in the frequency region 30 MHz to 5 GHz. The particles have been coated with a non-ionic surfactant, nonylphenol hexaethylene oxide (C9PhE6), and a non-ionic polymer, ethyl(hydroxyethyl)cellulose (EHEC). By applying theoretical models for the dielectric response we were able to follow the build-up of the sedimentation volume of the solid particles and thus to follow the difference in stability of the suspensions due to the surface modification of the solid particles. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.