BROWNIAN DYNAMICS OF STERICALLY-STABILIZED COLLOIDAL SUSPENSIONS

Using Brownian dynamics, equilibrium and dynamic properties are calculated for colloidal suspensions that are stabilized through the Milner, Witten and Cates (1988) steric potential. Results are reported for osmotic pressures, radial distribution functions, static structure factors, and self-diffusion coefficients. The sterically-stabilized systems are also approximated by equivalent hard spheres, with good agreement for osmotic pressure and long-range structure. The suitability of the potential to model the behavior of a real system is explored by comparing static structure factors calculated from Brownian dynamics simulations to those measured using SANS (Markovic et al., 1986). Finally, the effects of Hamaker and hydrodynamic forces on calculated properties are investigated.