Abstract
Rheological, optical and structural properties of colloidal suspensions of charge-stabilized gibbsite platelets across the sol–gel transition region are investigated. In this work we focus on samples with a low salt content (10−4 M). While at a gibbsite concentration of 300 g l−1, a nematic–columnar phase separation is observed, an arrested state with a nematic signature and highly elastic response has been observed for a concentration of 400 g l−1. A temporal evolution of the structure of the arrested state, which leads to stronger interparticle correlations, has been observed on a timescale of 20 months. The results suggest that the arrested state develops into a glass with a columnar nematic structure.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 494201 /1-494201 /6 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of physics. Condensed matter |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 49 |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |