Mixing effects in dense binary hard-sphere fluids

Condensed Matter lunchtime seminar

Mixing effects in dense binary hard-sphere fluids

  • Event time: 1:00pm
  • Event date: 19th January 2004
  • Speaker: Thomas Voigtmann (University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

Composition changes in dense colloidal fluids can have quite drastic effects. For example, the viscosity of the system at constant volume fraction can be significantly reduced by increasing the concentration of smaller species; an effect sometimes called plasticization and often used in industrial applications. The simplest systems showing such mixing effects are binary hard sphere mixtures. I will discuss some molecular dynamics and mode-coupling theory results for these systems. Even if ''only'' geometric effects are present there, unexpected things can happen, if one starts mixing two different sizes. It all depends on the size ratio rather sensitively.

About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars

This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..

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