Structure and Dynamics of Polymer and Colloidal Systems

This volume is based on lectures given at the NATO-Advanced Study Institute on Structure and Dynamics of Polymer and Colloid Systems held in Les Houches, France from September 14-24, 1999. The meeting arose from a perceived need to bring together scientists studying the polymer and colloid fields. Although these fields are intertwined and share many techniques (e. g. , light, neutron and x-ray scattering), it is remarkable how little the approaches and concepts used by the one field penetrate the other. For instance, the theory of spherical colloids is very highly developed and many of the concepts developed for these systems can be extended to those with non-spherical morphology, such as solutions of rigid rod polymers. In addition, mixtures of polymers and colloids, both in the bulk and at interfaces, are the basis for many industrial products. Methods are now rapidly being developed for understanding the structure and dynamics in polymer/colloid mixtures at the molecular level, but the point of view of the colloid scientist is often rather different from that of the polymer scientist. The NATO-ASI brought together polymer and colloid scientists, including many young researchers, who presented and discussed recent developments in these fields and the possibilities for cross-fertilization This volume contains articles on a wide variety of topics at the research forefront of the polymer and colloid fields by some of the world's foremost experts at a level accessible to graduate students, post-docs and researchers.

Klappentext
This timely review of work at the forefront of the polymer-colloid field includes an introduction to interactions in colloidal systems and introductions to scattering techniques (light, X-ray and neutron), including discussion of the two-colour light scattering technique. Recent advances in the following areas are included: dynamics in polymer colloid composite liquids, dispersions of microgel nanoparticles and dendrimers, dynamics of latexes, theory of colloid dynamics, diblock copolymers, polyelectrolytes, shear thickening in colloid and polymer suspensions, the concept of the critical gel and rheometry near the gel-point, and surface rheology and its relations to the stability of soft colloids. The emphasis is on the close connection between the polymer and colloid fields. Dendrimers, for instance, represent an intermediate system between a strongly fluctuating linear polymer and a solid, dense colloidal particle. Colloidal charged spherical microgels are used to illuminate and test fundamental ideas of polyelectrolyte physics. The articles are accessible to graduate students, postdoctoral workers and research scientists. TOC:Preface.- Interactions in Colloidal Particle Systems.- Light and Neutron Stuties of Colloidal Dispersions.- Dynamics in Rod-Sphere Composite Liquids.- Dynamics of Colloidal Suspensions.- Analysis of Polymer Latexes by Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering.- Structure of Dendrimers in Solution as Probed by Scattering Experiments.- Recent Advances in the Design of Branched Polymeric Architectures.- Dynamics of Block Copolymers.- Structure and Dynamics of Block Copolymers and Polymer Blends.- Structure and Dynamics of Colloidal Dispersions.- Shear Thickening Effects in Concentrated Suspensions.- Structure and Viscosity of Spherical Polyelectrolyte Microgels: A Model for the Polyelectrolyte Effect?- Stability of Soft Colloids. Relation to Interfacial and Thin Film Dynamics.- The Critical Gel: The Universal Material State between Liquid and Solid.- Structural Properties of Highly Charged and Flexible Polyelectrolytes: An Introduction.- Index.

Inhalt
Interactions in Colloidal Particle Systems.- Light and Neutron Studies of Colloidal Dispersions.- Dynamics in Rod-Sphere Composite Liquids.- Dynamics of Colloidal Suspensions.- Analysis of Polymer Latexes by Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering.- Structure of Dendrimers in Solution as Probed by Scattering Experiments.- Recent Advances in the Design of Branched Polymeric Architectures.- Dynamics of Block Copolymers.- Structure and Dynamics of Block Copolymers and Polymer Blends.- Structure and Dynamics of Colloidal Dispersions.- Shear Thickening Effects in Concentrated Suspensions.- Structure and Viscosity of Spherical Polyelectrolyte Microgels: A Model for the Polyelectrolyte Effect?.- Stability of Soft Colloids. Relation to Interfacial and Thin Film Dynamics.- The Critical Gel: The Universal Material State between Liquid and Solid.